Sol de Miel

My mother risked her life for me

to be queer.  as in: peculiar

weird. 

eccentric

unconventional.

Do you think she had anticipated that

hidden

in the back of a truck?    She risked her life. 

for me to choose to be gay.

as in:  choose

to seek

happiness in a way they hadn't. couldn't.

shouldn't.

wouldn't.

when she stares at my face 

and bites her tongue,

  Because I bite back.

do you think my grandmother's eldest daughter 

knows

that her youngest daughter 

has this

privileged

perspective of success?

Free Verse

Vaquero y su Caballo: 

a love letter to Verónica, my car

I had this feeling 

  a tingly sensation 

 deja vu maybe... 

of familiarity

in the passenger seat

 on our first meeting 

and our second, third...

it lingered 

when Lewis made me take you for a ride 

and when he wished you Goodbye.

Now, I approach you 

  knowing 

it's you and I:

You are an old friend. 

and you've been 

    de cuando era vaquero. 

y tú fuistes mi caballo. 

and we had el mundo entero 

   under your hooves and my feet, Verónica.

You came back to remind me

   que el mundo nos espera. 

Free Verse