From “YOU DA ONE” BY JENNIFER TAMAYO

From “YOU DA ONE”

BY JENNIFER TAMAYO

At the airport, we all take a shot of aguardiente

because we all had each other’s faces

When I saw my brother I saw my face

I saw my grandmother I saw my face

I saw my aunt I saw my stupid face

On the way up the mountain I saw my face in a pile of trash

I saw my face in the mule’s ass

I saw my lover I saw my face but it was white & weary

I saw my brother again and there was my face;

               my other brother, my other face

I saw my face in the American Apparel ivory chiffon blouse

I brought for this occasion

In the occasion I saw my face, I did

I saw my face in the pankekes the next morning

My face was in the talk of death

My face was in her teeth, the pavement, etc.,

There was a jail cell at the Museo Nacional, I saw my face

A woman flowercunted & crosslegged, my face & my face

Everywhere my face like I didn’t have one

Botero’s asses all my faces

I took down notes when it came to torture

& the inquisition and saw my face in the leather swing set

Clavicle spikerest & eye ruptrest

Faces, I suppose, are a type of torture

to look like one but never be one