Jaque

I wrote this introduction on 2/9/2026, and I wasn’t sure when I would post it. Today feels like a good day, and not just because it’s Valentine’s Day. If I’m going to be honest, the truth is that I hate Valentine’s Day. It is my least favorite holiday. So, why would I post a love poem on Valentine’s Day if I hate this day so much? Because today, I am going back to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) to see a writer’s panel that will include Guillermo del Toro. Last time I went to an event at the SBIFF, I felt my person’s soul reach out to mine. I am hoping that today, it happens again.

INTRO: This poem is for my Red String, for the soul that is searching for mine. This one, I am not going to translate. Your soul sometimes speaks Spanish to mine, and sometimes I write back to yours in Spanish, even though it’s my second language. This message is for you, and our souls do not need to translate each other to be understood.

Yesterday, I felt your soul calling mine twice. The second time was during the Virtuoso Awards at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. My soul could hear the echo of yours saying, “I’m nearby. I’m close.” I don’t know if by this you meant a missed connection at that event or that you are physically or temporally close. I just know that we will meet. Soon. Until then, I hope this message-in-a-bottle-in-an-algorithm finds you.

-Until we meet in person, my bi-king Aries.

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedJaque

Por las noches cuando me siento solo
vienes y con tu fantasma bailo
al ritmo de merengue y lamento.
Me agarras con la mano en la barriga
y me sostienes pegada a caricias
mientras con susurros me besas en la mejilla
e inspiras en mí un recuerdo
que despierta en la lengua
la memoria de cuando por primera vez
hablé español y solo me acuerdo
de aquel momento, de aquella vida
en la que estaba feliz
porque antes de ser tu costilla
fui tuyo, soy tuyo, tu Jaque.