Poetic Voices Winner, 3rd Place
Final Act of Houdini

You reappearing after constant disappearing, 
simply ain’t right. 
You don’t appreciate or elevate,
you hesitate.
I must draw this boundary line 
between me and you.

Talking to you is like
having the flu,
being down and blue.
I’ma medicate and elevate
to be cured and forget
I even bothered with you

I could wait all eternity
just waiting for you.
o hear a simple "Hi, how are you?"
But that won’t be true any time soon,
and I am tired of being down and blue
over you.
I must draw this boundary line
between me and you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting to you
the world-famous magician,
Houdini.
Tonight is a special magic night
with a special magic act.
Watch closely,
you may be in for a big
surprise.

Abracadabra.
Poof,
you appear.
A big cheer.
You point that magic wand
to your hat.
Give it a big whirl
and even a swirl.
Drum roll, please.
Poof,
you disappear.
The crowd goes ecstatic.

Stay persistent; you’re bound to break resistance.
You disappear and reappear.

Who knows how long this act will last?
I have seen this act.
Ain’t nothing new, nothing new.
Next you deny you have aces
Why can’t you just follow through?
I’m not down to watch a reenact.
I must draw this boundary line
between me and you.

Maybe I’ll see you down
in my ocean town.
I watch you phase me.
“Hi, how are you?”
Look, I practice magic, too.
I can make you disappear.
Abracadabra.
Poof.
But no, I won’t make you reappear
in this final act.
I must draw this boundary line
between me and you.

Michelle Pacheco-Espinoza