This poem is dedicated to my friend, David Trinidad,
who's been a constant source of inspiration for me.
And I was getting troubled by the fact
that people are often referring to my work
as confessional or post confessional.
I don't know even what post confessional means.
So I decided I would write a confessional poem in which I
confessed nothing.
And my strategy for that, I decided to take a leaf out
of David's book.
He often assembles poems out of found objects or phrases.
And so this poem is entirely made out
of movie titles that might indicate some form of an I.
And it's a confessional poem.
It is called "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen."
And it's about my life.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
I was a male war bride.
I was a spy.
So I married an ax murderer.
I married Joan.
I married a monster from outer space.
I am guilty, I am the cheese, I am
a fugitive from a chain gang.
Maybe, I'll come home in the spring.
I'll cry tomorrow, whose life is it, anyway?
It's a wonderful life.
I want to live.
I want someone to eat cheese with.
Who am I this time?
I am Cuba.
I am a sex addict.
Why was I born?
Why must I die?
I could go on singing.
I'll sleep when I'm dead.
I know who killed me.
I was 19, I was a teenage werewolf.
Just kill me.
Kiss me, kill me.
Kill me later.
Kill me again.
Give me a sailor.
If I had my way, I'd rather be rich.
I wouldn't be in your shoes.
I wish I had wings.
I wish I were in Dixie.
I passed for white.
I was framed.
I was a burlesque queen.
I was a teenage zombie.
I was an adventurous.
I was a convict.
I was a criminal.
I did it.
I killed that man.
Murder is my beat.
I confess.