Latina and More

imageCuando dos latinas se unen en la escritura, esto sucede. When two latinas unite in writing, this happens.

a duality of identity in my mirror
not enough…
I wanted a long raven mane
and a Spanish sounding name
I wanted caramel satin skin
and to match so much to fit
and a closer place to sit
I wanted Selena curves and hips
plump and red sinful lips
I wasn’t Latina and too white
not enough in their sight
not to me in another’s gaze
their judgment left me dazed
a duality of identity in the
mirror
never enough…
an Irish last name and a Spanish
toungue
ivory skin and a Latina soul
I am me
and I am enough.

-C.Dougherty @Poetry_goddess88

a match in the mirror
of my skin…
incarnated in the gaze of society
pleading for more
I’m not abundant with just
Latin arcs emerging from my
behind
elogated Afro Caribbean hair
an exotic name attesting the remints
of the Age of Exploration
A brain that is starving for insight
it is not sufficient for them
I am traitor of my land
when I departed to improve my life
I am not complete
I am not an authentic
since I decided
to hide my behind with my character
adapted to a new soil
fixing cracked gates with culture
I am not one of them
I am not one of the others either
in this margin of the sphere
an accent cutbacks the dignity
a brown skin & Spanish name
decreases my odds
In the mist,
I live in match of dual worlds
when I am only one
I am
plenty
enough
water
blending in a cup with oil and vinegar
without losing
myself.

-F.P. @mujerconvozpoetry

12PM

image

“Los platos ma’ bueno’ son los de tu espaldarazo
Los platos ma’ bueno’ son a las 12PM
cuando el sol se prende en fogón
Los platos ma’ bueno’ son
bueno ese arroz
moros y cristianos
y esa lengua que la bautiza
cuando tiene la frente sudando
a repollo
lejos de su tierra.”

“The best dishes are the ones from your
backing
The best dishes are at 12PM
when the sun catches on fire
The best dishes are the good ones
that good rice
Moors and Christians
and that tongue that baptizes
when the forehead is sweating
cabbage
far from home.”

—F.P.

Caribeña II

Rolos

Embriagada de tiempo y por África,
embotellada a un granito de arena
en el núcleo del camino al sol.
Dormido infinitamente
en la hebra,
en la trigueña,
en la ciguapa,
el marrón asfixiao’de ti anda
—consintiendo la cadera de un peine barato
risas que se tragan los rizos.
Desnudando miradas caminas
en rolo de proporcionados con
pinchos tímidos sin dueño
de camino al colmado y a la sombra.
Podrás agachar la loma de donde viene la palma,
pero jamás desmembrar la raíz del trópico a donde nacen estas
damas.

—F.P.