Cristina Izaguirre | 2009 Poetry Honorable Mention

New York City,

…

You let the symphonies and
painted postcards
live on every street corner
’cause you are always hungry
and dreams feed your vanity...

You give what you can
amphetamines, neon signs
cheap plastic and busted capillaries
make your lovers cum and bleed
at the same time
then tell them to

"GET THE FUCK OUT"
the rent is too high.

Your spine runs electric
from Coney Island to Pelham Bay
Seduce April and May
pin your hair up with cherry blossoms
scent of ginger between your breasts
even the August moon wants a taste of you