BIO
Amanda K. Mata-Mei is a Chicana poet raised in the traditions of backyard Catholicism and the borderland zeitgeist of her hometown of El Paso, TX. Trained as a writer and filmmaker, she graduated from Dartmouth College in 2012. Amanda resides in Queens, NY, and works in non-profit fundraising.
A note from rats and other vermin
We,
the grounded, flightless, wingless birds of no one's yore,
we
the twisted, craggy, deformed bastards
whose
only crimes lie in existence–
yes,
we! All of we, stand here today
undressed, unloved,
unworthy, and damned,
and
you must watch as we defecate and fornicate
upon
the synthetic society you call home.
Curse,
condemn, and criticize us, oh our Creators!
Complaints
are obsolete!
We
are your toxic waste.
We
are the pollution
of you Capitalists,
of you Communists,
of you Fascists.
Breathe
us in deep.
Swim
in your excess and garbage.
Upturn
your nose at our stench
as
we dance and sing,
pressing
up against
each
other's bruised and bloodied bodies
making
rough, unbridled love.
See
if we care.