Post by thepoetslizard on Oct 10, 2008 15:55:04 GMT 2
Babylu Abaya is a second generation Filipina American, born to a Filipino father and a French Canadian mother. Abaya graduated from Queens COllege, New York, and now lives and works in London, UK. Her work has appeared in the anthology Babaylan, ed. Nick Carbo and Eileen Tabios (aunt lute, 2000).
"I Wish I Were Baby Spice"
instead of Babylu. I'd wear my purple tube top
on the purple number 7, suck my lollipop
obscenely, call my boyfriend bloke.
My eyes would be as round as dimes.
My blond ponytail would swing side to side
and all the Hello Kitty collectors
would now collect stickers of me instead
because I'd be the first Filipino Spice Girl
from Flushing. I'd be the first Filipino Spice Girl
to sing about fish sauce and adobo,
to psst psst to the other girls when a carload
of fans was approaching. I'm sick of karaoke
and air guitars, pretending my hairbrush
is a microphone. I want my own purple limo
that can speed from my house in Queens to JFK
so that I can hop first-class on a London-bound plane
so that I can meet with Princes William and Henry for tea
and they can show me all the posters they have of me.
(source: Babaylan, aunt lute, 2000)
