Beetlejuice (a chapter)

Like women's bodies, the Ocean is a feminized body and space. There is so much movement in feminized spaces and bodies, but so much restriction. This project is one that looks at feminine bodies in and of the Pacific Ocean, and that creates something creative while also commenting critically on female/feminized bodies and issues of suppression, sensuality, and freedom, etc.

Can't Put A Price On Memories

“So next time I hear someone say that You Can’t put a Price on Memories
I’ll walk in an empty room so that they can hear the clinking of the broken fragments of my heart
Because the navy blue string from my couches back home that sewed the pieces together was taken from me when my parents finally handed over the keys”

Marbles in My Mouth

In my stream of thoughts, script sews itself into half of it

and still, I find myself on the outskirts of two worlds

since I’ve left girlhood. Tried to build a bridge with my back

across the Atlantic, stretched my body as far as the skin

on my limbs would grant it, but found myself poured over prayer

mats still asking the right questions in the wrong languages.

Hoping God translates this.

Praying

Feels like just last May,

my father didn’t celebrate the days of revelation.

Ramadan was served on a full dinner plate

since he works too late to entertain

the culture America finds so intimidating.

Revolution

Always loved the soft, sunstained, warm body

of my grandmother, the textured scripture

she sprinkles over holy beads. Always loved her too much,

or maybe just loved how much she loved me,

to ask if she’d ever grow tired of folding

her body for men, for religion, for all things in power

under heaven -- the things we’ve been told to cling to as women

to ensure we’ll never be free again or without a fastened knot to someone else.