Poetry

Through my poetry, I strive to tell stories about specific moments in time in a way that can be appreciated by poets and non-poets alike. I love exploring the personal in relation to larger public issues, always hoping my words reach the people that need them so they know they are not alone. Here are a few examples:

Identity / Culture

How Far You

Are From Me

I’ve never had to swim

through el río like you,
your clothes heavy

with water and hope
as you wade carefully

against the current.

Identity / Culture

Side Effects of Recognition / Solita

As the assistant principal calls my name, I go up a couple of steps and cross to center stage to shake my principal’s hand and accept my certificate of honor.

Identity / Culture

Distractions During Spanish Mass...

a priest speaks clumsy Spanish his “oh’s” turn into “ows” and “eh’s” turn into “ay’s,” stumbling on the precipice of holy words in an alien tongue...

Feminism

4AM Farewell

A mother and son

detained together asleep

she wakes up alone.

Feminism

(In)justice for the (M)other

A mother duck is separated from her chick in her search for food.

Encarnación is a mother caught in a raid undocumented.

Feminism

The Small of My Back

is not a pocket for your penis as I dance to the rhythm of a song.
didn't want to feel the calculated thrust of you, hardness slipping on soft skin.

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Motherhood

Hiding You Under Me

I want to shrink you down,
tuck you between my breasts

and rib cage, settle you

into the valleys between bones,
held in place by my supple underness,
never explored.

Motherhood

Lucky / Boys

Don't Cry

I stroke the wisps of hair on your head
and caress your soft and spoiled skin
as you suckle mi seno in our bed
to the soundtrack of crickets outside.

Motherhood

Amamantar

(To Breastfeed)

"Mamá" vive adentro de "amamantar" la palabra un sustantivo y un verbo a la vez

algo que solo la madre puede hacer para su hijo, darle de su cuerpo

alimentación única y natural esencial para vivir y crecer

Motherhood

Who Will You Be?

My bump is barely showing

and I'm already wondering:

Will you have my forehead

and your father's round face?

Will you have his pretty good teeth

or my trainwreck of a mouth?

Miscellaneous

A City Drowning / Safe is our status /

Windshield wipers on

You listen to deception,

innocent-sounding

pitter-patter on the windows

individual rain drops

falling slowly so you hear

each one's small thump...

Miscellaneous

How I Will Hug

My Mother After

the Pandemic

I will wrap my arms

tightly around her back

and bury my face

in her collarbone

my tears quickly spilling

onto her skin.

Poetry

How Far You

Are From Me

Side Effects of Recognition / Solita

Distractions During Spanish Mass...

4AM Farewell

(In)justice for the (M)other

The Small of My Back

Hiding You Under Me

Lucky / Boys

Don't Cry

Amamantar

(To Breastfeed)

Who Will You Be?

A City Drowning / Safe is our status /

Windshield wipers on

How I Will Hug

My Mother After

the Pandemic

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