In the Middle of My Poem

Selena jumps on stage.

She is like a child. Head in her hands,

feet moving back and forth behind her.

The audience starts to murmur.

Somebody says, “Is that who I think it is?”

Selena stands up.

She rips the microphone from me.

“Melissa is my inspiration!”

She tells the audience,

“Believe in yourself!

Follow your dreams!

Do what you LOVE!”

Love echoes throughout

the venue. It touches every

audience member on the cheek.

They all stand up.

I watch them.

The lights blink on and off.

They begin to scream.

“SELENA!” I hear.

My Latina fans with their

septum piercings and purple in their hair

sob loudly.

Selena laughs. A big, real laugh

that I feel in my groin.

She is laughing and the lights are blinking.

She flicks her hair back and it hits me in the face,

black tentacles slashing

me and making themselves known.