Let It Whip
for Korsica Liyaka Shepherd [R.I.P.]
she had a short career
out on the edge
in the flames, in the fire
consumed by the game she played
instead of paying off, she lost,
we lost
I fell in love with her-
with who was dead already
affair a week or two old
discovered today-
was shocked to hear-
that she has been dead
since last August
raped and murdered
or murdered and raped
found wrapped
in a Scooby-Doo blanket, naked
is our affair over and done with
what was developing between us
done for or in what state
with what potential
are there those
who still love Marilyn Munroe
who fall in love with her
all these years after her life ended
what sort of relationship
is possible between her and me
through the evocative videos
she left on YouTube
and will they any day be taken off
be taken down
22 when she died
when she was murdered, last year
career in what she chose to do
make videos of herself dancing
commenced, it seems,
about 3 years before
when she was 17 or 18
or did it start earlier
daring things she'd do
fun-loving, freedom-loving woman
gifted, rhythmic, athletic dancer
was gone before I knew it
gone but still here / but here still
in my heart now
heart full of blood and milk
to shake and make a poem
I dreamt of her and me connecting
dreamt of meeting her
dancer and poet
dreamt of collaboration
inspiration made possible
inspired that other pen of mine initially
last two weeks
I've watched her nearly everyday
lonely when I didn't
she was the company I'd keep
these last two weeks
her to hold onto- to attach to
against being- against the need
to feel lonely
how shocked I was today
an hour or so ago
to discover that she is dead
was murdered
flower crushed between rough palms
or flung to the ground
and squashed like a roach
her petals mutilated
her perfume released
upon the atmosphere
she belonged to thousands
who loved and watched
from she was little more
than a talented, skinny teenager
an early video of her, made in 2008
I saw and thought
of Romanian gymnasts,
thought of Nadia Comăneci
thought of their legendary coach,
Béla Károlyi
thought she could have, in his hands
been one of them
been just as great
what a pity that she fell into
another set- another kind of hands
hands that raped- that strangled
who was a gift
who was as talented as could be
wrote recently in another poem
or in a note somewhere
about stars in the sky
shining bright, against the dark
against the night
stars that have actually gone out
long ago, that were dead-
that have died long ago
available to be seen in the sky still
because the light travels from so far-
has taken so very long to get to us
to come into view- come along
from so many light years away
she was dead from last August
here it is, May, nine months later
two weeks ago, fell head over heels
in love with her
discovered just today
that she was- when I encountered her,
lone gone, long dead
I want her to last
like Marilyn Munroe has lasted
she is certainly as magical, as beautiful
dead and gone or not, I love her
she touched my heart
she touched my soul
took my breath with her dance steps
with her high kick
with what she could do
with a vertical bar to climb
to spin upon, to turn upside down on
with a wooden floor to cross
or to get down on her knees upon
she used to turn me on
this I must confess
what am I to do
now that she is gone
now that I know she is
am I to enjoy her still
or am I to join her mom
her family, her friends in mourning
what a sad day it is indeed
to hear of this deed
to hear of her demise
to hear that Korsica Liyaka Shepherd
is lifeless
when I thought she was quick, alive,
was well and thinking up- thinking of
new videos to add
I was actually awaiting sufficient funds
to be able to sign up
Web site she invited
who viewed her on YouTube
to follow her to
"to see Mz Sexier
"being super sexy!"
I want to still
want to swallow all I can of her
like pills against the aches
and pains of life
of which she has been
relieved too soon
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2012
4:37 p.m. 07.05.12
