In Their Lovely Vivacious Glory

a Letter to Gloria Anzaldúa, Chavela Vargas y Tatiana de la Tierra, asking for help after the Orlando Massacre of 49 Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Latinos at Pulse Nightclub

Gloria,
Lesbiana
Antepasada
Memoria estrellada
Guía cósmica
I tried to roll outta bed esta manana
like the word nepantla rolled off your tongue
Like river rocks
Like desert sand runs

Gloria,
Lesbiana
Antepasada
Memoria estrellada
Guía cósmica
I tried to roll outta bed esta mañana
Y, vi a través the dry eyes
De nuestros hermanas
walking through the sun
Hoping to escape their demise
Racing towards a place to lay their head
To satisfy their undying sed
And a dancefloor to kiss
her girlfriend,
Mercedez

Gloria,
Lesbiana
Antepasada
Memoria estrellada
Guía cósmica
¿Qué pasa si no quiero despertar esta mañana?
¿Si no quiero decir adiós a mis hermanas?
El día doce de Junio

Espíritu Chavela,
Lesbiana
Antepasada
Memoria estrellada
Guía cósmica
When I tried to roll outta bed esta mañana
Las sonrisas de sus new spirit chamacas
Dancing tip toed to las campanas
in their lovely vivacious glory
Shimmy to your singing story
and strumming ranchera guitar
In front of a blood soaked bar
Made me question
Was this animal predatory?
Could I have done something?
Could I have done something?
Could I have done something,
To rewrite this story?
To protect our dance floor conservatory?

Chavela,
Lesbiana
Antepasada
Memoria estrellada
Guía cósmica
¿Qué pasa si no quiero despertar esta mañana?
¿Si no quiero decir adiós a mis hermanas?
El día doce de Junio

Espíritu Tatiana,
Lesbiana
Antepasada
Memoria estrellada
Guía cósmica
I tried to roll outta bed esta manana
Through club smoke clouding my eyes
I saw
nuestras hermanas
dancing shirtless
Full of hope
Glittery lights
lazers spinning
A peek
through my dream kaleidoscope
Of you and me
and she and him
and them and us
and we
Bulbous and round
Bouncing
Grinding close to the ground
superstars
Beyond avant-garde
Across the dance floor
We were caught off-guard
And, we celebrated that we made it this far

Tatiana,
Lesbiana
Antepasada
Memoria estrellada
Guía cósmica
¿Qué pasa si no quiero despertar esta mañana?
¿Si no quiero decir adiós a mis hermanas?
El día doce de Junio

Espíritu
Gloria, Chavela, Tatiana
Lesbianas
Antepasadas
Memorias estrelladas
Guías cósmicas
I turn to you
Face first
ass bouncing
tequila chilled
Lashes curled
Tight fade
Heels high
Boobies wrapped
Cat eyes

I ask  you
Guías cósmicas
Switch back on the lights
Exterminate the fright
Fill it with I will survive
I will survive
I will survive

Quiero despertar esta mañana
Adiós hermanas
Antepasadas
Memorias estrelladas
Guías cósmicas

---

Anel Flores

Anel I. Flores, editor of forthcoming anthology by Korima Press, Jota and author of Lambda Literary Award nominated novel Empanada: A Lesbiana Story en Probaditas, is alumni of Squaw Valley Community of Writers, the Macondo Writer’s Workshop, and the NALAC Institute. Awards include the NALAC Fund for the Arts, Accion Women Inspiring Women Award, NPN Mentorship/Leadership Award, the Cooper-Hewitt Community Design Award, ABLDP Valedictorian, and the Constance Allen Educator Award. Currently, she is working on her novel, Cortinas de Lluvia.