Pretty Filipina

Pretty, pretty Filipina had straight hair

and a bad upbringing.

She had fertile effervescence.

She knew how to smile and talk,

and she knew how to shake it, taut like

a dodgeball.

She sketched funny pictures with her warm hands.

She liked vinyl booths, tiny bites,

sugar packets, and seedy bars.

She liked Couture and Manolo Blahniks and sass.

She liked those things. She did.

But mostly, she liked to tie off her arm and dream.