Shakespeare’s women were first
men in drag; a gaggle of girl-shaped wishes
sharpening to crone-bawdied wit. Some boys
make beautiful women. High tenors before breaking
are a beautiful thing, the art of the act
volleyed past dialog and into being.
Jules played Juliet, dull dagger
pressed between padded breasts
and we see the girl in the boy
dying for love, the gender mask
lifted again and again:
The Victor/Victoria dilemma
or the Tootsie trial; love peels lies
like layers of onion until nothing’s left
beyond the game, and the joy of it
is in the surface fake
that dazzles as it deludes those
who never look past a mask, or peek under a dress.
Susan Daniels Poetry 
brilliant poetry!
Thank you, Paul.
Very nicely done Sus
Thanks, Jen!
awesome Susan !
Thanks, Deb!
“peak under the dress” Very nice. Also fun. This reminds me of when seeing a girl’s underpants on the playground was scandalous and warranted teasing.
Hee, hee. i remember that!
Climbing on the monkey bars 😉
having some friends who work with gender boundaries, I find this porm remarkable!
YOF,thank you! I think gender lines can be skipped over like rope, a double-dutch delight when done right 😉
Great writing. As someone who studied Shakespear in college I totally appreciate this.
A peek under the dress reveals that the girls got tools. 🙂
LOL!
This is brilliant Susan
Thank you, C!