[StillettoDoll]

When you lay there, a brown body floating against
the edges of a tub, the warm water against
your now cold skin, I hope the last ripples that seep
into your blood remind you to picture the forest,
the vestments, the wardrobe, the lion's mane
and four little white kids you read about days before.
The book , the witch, the rug in my classroom
the bookshelf, how to check out a book, bookmarks,
the way to turn the page ,the way to treat
a book is the way you hold a child, is the way
you should be held, with your head up,
your face above the water, not pinned down, no , not
always running from a drunk, run in the fields, hurry,
defend your life. defend Narnia, live in the back
half of the ropero , escondete hasta que la noche se amaina.
Imagine warm nights telling Peter and Edmund about
how to beat back a dragon in your real world- off
the darken streets of Rampart and Renwick. Let
little lucy smile at you, tell you to sleep in the grass.
Look up at the stars, eyes closed, your arms floating
by your sides, the edges of grass against your body.
Listen to the sound of water in the river next to you,
the rain that drops across your face, water all around as you , lay
there, lay in there, no longer cold, warm, away from harm.
Live with Mr. Tummus , mijito, live in the pages, live in Narnia ,
where you can hide forever.

-Lupe Mendez Texas laureate 2022
Local poet