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