Malak Mattar, Untitled (detail), 2024, charcoal on paper
All Her Songs
All her songs sung finally to Frank,
Frank fallen so many moons ago…
Not that she hasn’t loved others since
Frank, in fact taken lovers over and over,
But that all her songs still go right away
To our Frank. Frank’s appeal after
These long years? Frank’s life gone so
Early, and in her innards Frank always
A waving portrait singing down in her
Aquarium, “All this is all right, but still
Remember me.” Frank always young
And loving, always her boy and the one,
Gone so long since. She’s kept going
And singing, crowds gathering always,
Saying sing that one about Frank again.