Smitten by Frida’s Gaze
After Eve L. Ewing
the annual Flint Farmers’ Market Fiesta,
i see her here
floating thru the isles of booths
such an enigmatic yet eye catchingly distinct goddess
she’s wearing a turquoise Chiapas dress
the sunset flora pattern is mesmerizing
the petals are waves dancing under the moonlight as she glides
adorning her collar is a jungle of orange beads
a brown fringe leather jacket and military green combat boots
a striking combination of tradition, beauty, and masculinity
no one seems to notice the colorful figure
as if she’s just an outline of a person
or a purple tinted shadow
i think nothing of it,
this is Flint after all
her canvas perked and melted as she indulged in a tamale
dancing at the center of the floor
as if she were the sun to our solar system
my favorite Selena song was playing
‘Como La Flor’
usually i’d be on the dance floor braiding myself into the culture,
but all i can do is watch her
i started to feel like a stalker
just staring at her
i go to order Horchata when i feel a chill rush down my spine
it was sudden but somehow it gave a sense of warmth
i turn around to see the figure
her figure
she was gazing at me from across the venue
‘did she know i was watching her?’
she continued to stare at me, no, into me
her gaze evoked a temporary state of Nirvana
she was looking at me the way i was looking at her
we were connected through passion and identity
she started to fade into the scene like one of her paintings
her attire blended like water colors
i was left enlightened,
with a single Marigold to remember her by
(this recording takes place at the Fiesta)
By M