deepundergroundpoetry.com
QUINCEAÑERA
A pleasant Summer breeze
whispers through the ahuehuete
slightly agitating las luminarias
that border with shimmering light
the expansive red-brick patio
festively decorated with garlands
of pink and white papel picado
In my red taffeta dress,
lovingly hand sewn by mi mamá,
con mi papá I dance el vals tradicional.
I'm the center of attention
in a large crowd of smiling familia y amigos.
The fragrance of my bouquet of quince rosas,
the sound of música alegre
played by el Mariachi,
thrill my senses.
Mi abuelita says
I look like a bellísima carnación
I love my abuelita so much!
she made my beautiful cake,
tres leches...mi favorita,
and her deliciosos tamales
just as she did for mi mamá.
I feel so loved, so special.
¡Estoy muy feliz!
Me siento como princesa.
Wrenched awake too suddenly,
dream shattered
"¡Despierta m'ija!
we have to line up for food"
the pungent stench of body odor,
of too much humanity packed tightly,
cruelly propels me into reallity
"¡Feliz cumpleaños, preciosa!"
mi mamá says, con besos y abrazo
tears cascading down her cheeks
A blazing hot Texas Sun
beats down on women, children, and men
lined up single-file, by the hundreds,
awaiting daily, meager rations of food and water.
Mi mamá, to lift my spirits,
quietly sings my favorite canción antigua,
"Ay, ay, ay, ay
Canta y no llores
Porque cantando se alegran
Cielito lindo, los corazones"
I try hard to hide my tears, my deep sadness.
Phantasmal strains of Mariachi trumpets steal in
and the high, razor-wire-topped fences,
unsmiling guards,
and así llamado land of opportunity beyond
for a brief moment disappear.
I sashay across an elegant ballroom
mid rustling of red taffeta
bailando,cantando, gritando con gozo
¡Todo esta bien...mágico!
whispers through the ahuehuete
slightly agitating las luminarias
that border with shimmering light
the expansive red-brick patio
festively decorated with garlands
of pink and white papel picado
In my red taffeta dress,
lovingly hand sewn by mi mamá,
con mi papá I dance el vals tradicional.
I'm the center of attention
in a large crowd of smiling familia y amigos.
The fragrance of my bouquet of quince rosas,
the sound of música alegre
played by el Mariachi,
thrill my senses.
Mi abuelita says
I look like a bellísima carnación
I love my abuelita so much!
she made my beautiful cake,
tres leches...mi favorita,
and her deliciosos tamales
just as she did for mi mamá.
I feel so loved, so special.
¡Estoy muy feliz!
Me siento como princesa.
Wrenched awake too suddenly,
dream shattered
"¡Despierta m'ija!
we have to line up for food"
the pungent stench of body odor,
of too much humanity packed tightly,
cruelly propels me into reallity
"¡Feliz cumpleaños, preciosa!"
mi mamá says, con besos y abrazo
tears cascading down her cheeks
A blazing hot Texas Sun
beats down on women, children, and men
lined up single-file, by the hundreds,
awaiting daily, meager rations of food and water.
Mi mamá, to lift my spirits,
quietly sings my favorite canción antigua,
"Ay, ay, ay, ay
Canta y no llores
Porque cantando se alegran
Cielito lindo, los corazones"
I try hard to hide my tears, my deep sadness.
Phantasmal strains of Mariachi trumpets steal in
and the high, razor-wire-topped fences,
unsmiling guards,
and así llamado land of opportunity beyond
for a brief moment disappear.
I sashay across an elegant ballroom
mid rustling of red taffeta
bailando,cantando, gritando con gozo
¡Todo esta bien...mágico!
Published 20th Aug 2019
Author's Note
Inspired by the "Clothed" competition. This was a deeply emotional write for me. It's one of those spectral poems that just arrive in your mind and won't go away until spilled mixed with tears on the page. My heart breaks especially for the immigrant children detained in over-crowded interment camps on our Southern borders. I tried to see the experience through the eyes of this young Mexican girl.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 7
reading list entries 2
comments 12
reads 800
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
21st Aug 2019 1:02am
Just Wow, Gahddess. Just Wow. I was not expecting that turn of events. This is a real eye-opener of a poem. It runs akin to awakening from a dream life for it only to be shattered by reality. I am sick over the immigrant issue.
A friend of mine's daughter just had her Quinceanera. It was so beautiful. It's so much better than our debutante balls. It's special and doesn't have to be shared with anyone else.
Wonderful write. Loved the language selections. It truly adds an authentic feel.
A friend of mine's daughter just had her Quinceanera. It was so beautiful. It's so much better than our debutante balls. It's special and doesn't have to be shared with anyone else.
Wonderful write. Loved the language selections. It truly adds an authentic feel.
21st Aug 2019 4:11pm
Thank you so much, Ahavati! I'm loath to take too much credit for this piece. It showed up on my cerebral porch and wouldn't leave until I spilled it, mixed with tears, on the page.
I was privileged to attend a play called "Blood Wedding," written by Garcia Lorca and staged by the Ashland Shakespeare Festival. The play was presented in English, however, when a line was emphatic two Hispanic actors, woman/man sitting on the periphery, would repeat the line in beautiful Spanish. It served to really accentuate the drama and I was very moved. That was my inspiration for the Spanish in this piece. Thank you again! Your encouragement is important to me. 😁🙏
I was privileged to attend a play called "Blood Wedding," written by Garcia Lorca and staged by the Ashland Shakespeare Festival. The play was presented in English, however, when a line was emphatic two Hispanic actors, woman/man sitting on the periphery, would repeat the line in beautiful Spanish. It served to really accentuate the drama and I was very moved. That was my inspiration for the Spanish in this piece. Thank you again! Your encouragement is important to me. 😁🙏
21st Aug 2019 10:15am
I'm just going to say Holy Shit.
As per your notation, I believe you succeeded.
As per your notation, I believe you succeeded.
21st Aug 2019 4:45pm
Thank you, Johnny! Your "holy shit" is high praise indeed. I am happy that I succeeded, in your estimation, to convey the feeling I was hoping to convey.
21st Aug 2019 3:56pm
21st Aug 2019 4:42pm
21st Aug 2019 4:50pm
21st Aug 2019 5:12pm
Anonymous
- Edited 8th May 2020 8:45pm
22nd Aug 2019 00:01am
<< post removed >>
22nd Aug 2019 00:20am
28th Aug 2019 4:06pm
Oh wow, i didn't expect to feel this kind of emotional tug, tighter and tighter as i continued to read the poem.
You painted such a vivid, heart wrenching imagery, the scene in my mind came alive. And to think how we are scarred for life from early tragedies in life.
I gotta say, the way you told this story the first thing that popped in my mind was how Isabel Allende unfolds her stories. Beautifully done Bob, I can see why this feels so personal to you.
You painted such a vivid, heart wrenching imagery, the scene in my mind came alive. And to think how we are scarred for life from early tragedies in life.
I gotta say, the way you told this story the first thing that popped in my mind was how Isabel Allende unfolds her stories. Beautifully done Bob, I can see why this feels so personal to you.
28th Aug 2019 5:02pm
Thank you so much, Layla. I actually choked up a bit when you mentioned Isabel Allende. There is such magic in her work. I feel the same about the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Jose Saramago. I am happy to read your comment.
