used to dance to the Four Tops with that shaky
little hip-step she made up one morning while we
stayed home from school and glittered our fingernails
we used to go out with the same boys
sharing them on a rotating basis
we wore gold earrings dark lipstick black heels
great for dancing
and Tina would laugh forever on account of her
joyous disposition and the night air
sometimes we had to hold our breaths for about
a month and a half before we could breathe again
but it was always worth it
I don't visit or call or in any way communicate
with Tina anymore, not since her husband
showed me the damp narrow tunnels in his eyes
he wanted me to understand something about how
a man has needs and desires that have nothing to do
with nothing at all
except no job no money no self-respect or
some such foolish thing, I saw his plan of action
and what is there to do but reject the
heroic rapist and draw yourself away from the
crocodile who cries himself a river
because you have seen the poisoned shadows in his eyes
Last time I saw Tina she wore dark glasses
that didn't cover her purple eyes or blue cheek
and there really isn't any way to hide a broken arm
she ran away from me
so after I washed my dishes all I could do was
light three candles and remember
Tina used to dance to the Four Tops with that
shaky little hip-step and laugh until forever
with the coming of the dawn.
From The Chicano / Latino Literary Prize
An Anthology of Prize-Winning Fiction, Poetry and Drama
Stephanie Fette, Editor
©2008 Arte Público Press