Born This Way
by Emanuel Xavier
I want to breathe Rimbaud's last breath
I want to shower in Bukowski's golden piss
I want to wrap my legs around the sun and fuck it blind
I want to read Walt Whitman to the waves at Coney Island beach
I want to challenge the constraints of Catholics
I want to swim through Madonna's hair
come out changed and reinvented
I want to run out to the rooftop and roll on broken glass
lying there bloodied looking skyward
I want to foretell the future from clouds
reaching out to touch God's naked body
I want to hang out with trannie hookers
opening their homes and hearts as freely as their legs
sleeping on floors surrounded by bitten off corners
of condom packages
I want my Muse to make love to me
pounding me hard with his hands at my wrists
leaving me breathless and inspired to concentrate
my faith
I want to hear him say, "I see Lorca in your eyes"
I want to love him like a little child
troddling unafraid thru the heaven of his soul
with whispers gone before nightfall
I want to hitchhike through the heart of America
but the cars keep passing by
©2002 by Emanuel Xavier
Read an interview with Emanuel Xavier, also in this issue.
Emanuel Xavier is the author of Americano, Pier Queen, and the Lambda Literary Award nominated debut novel, Christ-Like. His work has also appeared in Drumvoices Revue, Urban Latino Magazine, James White Review, New Rican Voices, Men on Men 7, Blood & Tears, Besame Mucho, Virgins, Guerrillas & Locas and Of The Flesh.
He has performed at venues as diverse as Washington Square Park, American Crafts Museum, Barnes & Noble, Queensborough Public Library, Dixon Place, Columbia University, DePaul University, St. Mark's Poetry Project, Irving Plaza, The Henry Miller Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Le Petit Theatre and Nuyorican Poets Cafe, where he became a two-time Grand Slam winner. He has produced several spoken word events, including the Realness & Rhythms poetry series, the annual Glam Slam and the Words To Comfort benefit for the World Trade Center Relief Fund. He has appeared on PBS's In The Life, on the cover of Lambda Book Report, modeled for Diesel in Urban Latino, been immortalized in a portrait by celebrated artist James De La Vega, and in 2000 was selected one of PAPER magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.
Emanuel Xavier is the recipient of a Marsha A. Gomez Cultural Heritage Award for his contributions to gay and Latino culture, and has been selected as Poet Laureate of the 2002 Brooklyn Pride celebration.
