I.
mama told me she was at work when she heard someone got
greedy & you stopped
breathing
queue up
your best hits but you’ve only been
gone for an hour
we are never unprepared to honor the dead
la reina de tejano
como me duele
inside mama’s stomach
you are gone when i get here
that same year
II.
filled stadiums todos los trabajadores de los campos
seas of skin that knew
the sun
the daughter
of texas
you will not pronounce the EX
tejas forever & ever
in my house
i knew only half of mama’s tongue so you made sure i sought out the scary part
she says you were the most beautiful & they hated you for it
your smile most of all
not everyone that smiles back is happy for you & como
me duele
III.
we all
bidi bidi bom bom
tonight
i’m at a wedding
unsure if it is my own
song so good make my politics go
missing
somebody is the happiest they’ve ever been today
no lo puedo controla
mama said i’m the most beautiful and they hate me for it
we’re twins that way & i don’t mind being hated with you
we all queen of something tonight, ¿verdad?
we are loved because we say
IV.
so you crossed over before you crossed over
we are greedy in that way
V.
amor prohibido murmuran por las calles
what becomes of the bitchboys in the barrios
when their queen is dethroned?
when mama found me on my knees
praying away all my prohibido
she says i love you mucho see
she slips into spanish when she wants to
make sure i am listening
how did you know
all my amor
was prohibido see
you were gone
when i got here.