Eulogy for Michael Jackson
- Eulogy for Michael Jackson
Dear Michaeltoday you diedand it's been only hours since they foundyou wrapped in black feathersalone on a golden floor.
How did you live to reach 50so riddled with friendly fireyour lips became slashesthat could no longer feel?Car radios blast this nightwith your beat down of Billie Jeanwho claimed she had your babywhen what you wantedwas a veiled white princeyou said was your true heir. [End Page 37]
We all miss you and havemissed you sinceyour rabbit hole escapedown the back of your own face.
White socksflash at the bottom of your legs,spinthe black off the toes of yourdancing shoesand all the ribbons of royaltycannot turn you real.
The man in the mirrorswallows you wholeand the music you bleedcan't buytime and trust and anywayyou can't pay somebody to grow up for youespecially when you're so investedin that fabulous finalact of disappearancefrom which there are noreturns. [End Page 38]
Melinda Susan Goodman has been teaching at Hunter College in New York City since 1987. She was a founding member of The Audre Lorde Women's Poetry Center and was formerly in the editorial collective of Conditions, the world's first Lesbian literary journal. Her poems have appeared in LGBT journals and anthologies, and she received an Astraea Award for Lesbian poets. She is of Jewish descent, mgoodm@hunter.cuny.edu
