Dame Mas Gasolina

Imaginate esto 

Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina”

Shaking my Tia’s house floor 

Her pawned stereo 

Letting the neighbors know 

Of it’s irresistible tune 

We felt it in our hips 

Moving 

             Side 

To    

      Side

A rhythm that flowed through our very viens 

Y yo, 

Cantando con todo mi corazón 

“¡Dame más gasolina!”

Sin saber el significado 

Imaginate esto

I, with my favorite silk button up blouse 

And signature up hair-do

Ama, with her hot pink digital camera 

Not wanting to miss a beat

My brother, in his usual faded WWE t-shirt

The Undertaker of course 

My little sister, dressed head to toe

exactly like me 

Ama quería gemelas. 

Then there was Apa, 

Sitting with my Tios

Having a Corona 

Smoking a couple cigarettes 

Keeping Machismo

Alive. 

All of us waiting for the best part 

Ama’s Tamales 

Warm like her love 

Steam introducing itself 

As she opened the pot— 

An aroma similar to that of freshly made tortillas 

Made all our mouths water 

No doubt 

It’s a satisfying moment

Cutting      them

Open 

Seeing the long craved pork 

Covered in its delicious red sauce 

Almost as red as my blouse 

Que bello 

                 el tiempo 

                                  del ayer

About the Author

Jacki Ramirez is in her last year at Arcadia and has been writing poems ever since she can remember. She write in hopes that other Latinx people can read her work and find community in them. Her poem "Dame Mas Gasolina" shines light on her memories during Christmas time.