Before Mexicana flight #729
en route to Mexico City departs
from San Antonio International Airport
I buy a 69¢ disposable razor at
the gift shop because I forgot
in Mexico they don’t like hair
under your arms only on
your legs and plan to
shave before landing but
the stewardess handing out declaration
forms has given me the wrong
one assuming I’m Mexican but I am!
and I have to run up the aisle and ask
for a U.S. citizen form instead because
I’m well how do I explain?
except before you know it we’re
already crossing the volcanoes and
descending into the valley of Mexico City
and I have to rush to the back
while the plane drops too quickly as
if the pilot’s in a hurry to get home
and into the little airplane bathroom where
lots of couples want to coitus fantisizus but
I only want to get rid of my underarm hair
quick before the plane touches down in
the land of los nopales disregarding
lights blinking kindly return to your
seat and fasten your seatbelt all
in Spanish of course just in time
for flight #729 to deposit me finally
into the arms of awaiting Mexican kin
on my father’s side of the family where
I open my arms wide armpits clean
as a newborn’s soul without original
sin and embrace them like the good
girl my father would have
them believe I am.