Frida's Body by Jacob Ramirez

Frida Kahlo by artist Jacob Rocha

Under the clouds

born of jungle

the wind whips

her hair.

The parrots

plant seeds

of orchids

and poppies

and pineapple

Sage.

It is raining.

Her tears

cure the cactus,

pale and sag

with withering.

Her water

washes

the blood

of an afterbirth,

the bowl

a bouquet

of dahlias.

Toucans

lift her

spine,

a horizon

of bone.

And here

her breath

calls in hunt

for mate

like coyotes

in Coyoacan

who snarl

at dead fish.

Her breasts

sit halved

like lemons

in the sun,

rotting

in the stomach

of the light.

Her acids

seduce

new lovers.

Her ovaries

harmonize

a requiem

of mourning.

Black doves

descend

on her eggs

translucent

against

the moon.

And here

the wind

whistles through

her carcass,

ribs spread

under the heavens.

Jacob Ramirez is a poet and educator originating from Merced, California. He is the recipient of the University of Lancaster’s Portfolio Prize where he earned his MA in Creative Writing. His poetry features in The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 4 LatiNEXT (Haymarket Books). He is currently at work on his first manuscript. He lives in Sonoma County with his wife, two children, and cat.