I talked to and hugged
MARILYN MONROE
she was older
than she was when she died
& I was younger than I am
I told her
I had grown up
watching her
in my grandparents theater
I meant STAGE theater
NOT FILM
& that her
DIGNITY and GRACE
& the kindness
she had always
addressed to the kids
had been a huge
INSPIRATION
to me
she was holding her face
in a weird way
to keep
from having visible expressions
while still seeming
to HAVE
an enigmatic inscrutable expression
& she pulled me in
for a slightly stiff side hug
ALMOST as if
EVERYTHING HURT
& she gave me a little smile
thanks honey
it was
ALTERNATE universe
SOMEHOW
BUT
POWERFUL
