<\/p>\n
Now and then I turn a corner in Brooklyn
\nand I see something lovely.
\nA cherry blossom, a blush-red brick,
\nchildren frolicking and finding something
\nto fight about. Unsuspecting, I\u2019ll be
\nwearing my headphones, noise-canceling,
\nquite loud, listening to Donna Summer. A joy thunderous<\/p>\n
will wake me from my wakesleep. A laugh,
\na shout, a story told in excitation, coming
\nfrom one gleaming face or many with
\nthe amber light of late day making the whole wide earth<\/p>\n
look young.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When I see these stirring, affirming things<\/p>\n
I cannot help but think you\u2019d love them<\/p>\n
were you here to see them, too.<\/p>\n
Then I remember that you\u2019re still alive<\/p>\n
and all that I must do is call.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve long dreamt of being Beyonce, waking up
\nto a view of the Alps in a pink silk robe.
\nI pick up the phone by my bed to let my
\nstylist know I\u2019m awake to be draped in full glamor.<\/p>\n
Traipse along marble floors to a kitchen filled with<\/p>\n
peaches just ripe. My children would come greet me,<\/p>\n
all smiles, having slept soundly. No radiator hissing<\/p>\n
like a violent cat to keep them up at night.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve long dreamt of the gas tank always full and
\na driveway so that I never have to circle the block.
\nA pool when I need to cool off. A chef when I don\u2019t want to cook.<\/p>\n
But most of all, I want to sing
\nlike someone beloved
\nin an outfit like a hymn.
\nTo have people who love me
\ncheer just for standing before them.<\/p>\n
To be celebrated. To be queen.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And after all that, I\u2019d get to fall asleep
\nright when I lie down. That\u2019s what I imagine it\u2019s like.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019ve long dreamt of being Beyonce…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6103,"template":"","categories":[9,49,119],"tags":[6,1775,1776,1777,201,1778],"class_list":["post-6097","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aquifer","category-literary-features","category-poetry","tag-aquifer-the-florida-review-online","tag-beyonce","tag-devonaire-ortiz","tag-diva","tag-poetry","tag-thats-often-the-hardest"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n