Dear Tulum, Dear Alexis
by Alexis Ivy
DEAR TULUM,
I want to go back to you without my mother
climb ruins, be part of your ceremony,
what I couldn’t do with her
we were like sisters, inseparable,
shared a bed, the books, the beach
and I was the gorgeous one
and I was the one getting the attention
from men I always ached for
my body was having a moment
it was the most beautiful I ever was
in front of my mother
she had been my critic in childhood so
life doesn’t get sweeter
when I met you, I got to
be part of the sunrise,
I was something to capture, to attain
I’m now not part of the pretty
no matter how shimmery I look
coming out of the water
I want to come back to you,
be romantic this time,
go with my seven-years of a relationship
the passion we once burned in
can I have you as good again?
will you ever be as good?
will I?
DEAR ALEXIS,
it’s best the first time
I will like you any way you come,
just come back happy
with you however you are
I am what in love with life feels like
I’ve become more built,
maybe not what you are looking for
you’ve been trying all this time
to make it back to me
you plan for me every year
and no show, I have become a wish,
a hope—
don’t let me be nostalgia, I exist,
create new memories
with me
fan mail deserves a response
I’ve become more expensive
and at times a no travel zone
no promises
your love for your mother is without strings
come here, it’s hard to stay this way
so you better come soon it’s not about
what you haven’t done
here, not about your man,
it’s always about
more than your man
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