blankness spills across her pretty face no distinction between her and the marble her hands and feet are still watches herself say the right words and make the appropriate gestures nothing makes sense in this moment rage burns inside of her she smiles and nods politely as they talk about the weather
the downpour from this morning made me uber emotional driving through a flood, trying to not lose control of my car and with God by my side and Olivia Rodrigo on the radio I made it to work the downpour didnβt stop and my coworker mentioned it was an upside world when the morning looks like evening and the dreadful weather triggered the on switch to my depression and out pours the thoughts about grief and death the downpour of my emotions started and nothing could stop it
me in my luchadoras gear ready to go into my second job
I channel the luchadoras before me the ones who had to work in the chacras to provide for their families, the ones who had to work with their bare hands to build generational wealth the ones who survived infidelities, abuse, and tragedies and still came out on top as Queens the ones who never had the option to lay down and princess to be doted on, be taken care of they had to become working class luchadoras for the betterment of themselves and their families
aol chatrooms serves her purpose for attention and validation slowly Lacy become a love junkie with a combo of low self worth and undiagnosed mental illness she never feels like sheβs enough so she uses her beauty and her body to search of wholeness no one thinks to stop her or monitor what sheβs doing online has plenty of dates with strange men in parking lots at 16, she feels on top of the world sneaking hits of lust After school and on weekends using her friends to cover for her never thinking of the consequences and always living for the moment
I wrote this poem in January of 2024 for my friend Rosie who died in 2023.
me right after I wrote this poem
it was a wintry and rainy day in Georgia when last goodbyes were exchanged between you and and your boys you were thousands of miles away in Texas, in your hospice bed I imagine you were full of peace in your last conscious moments finding comfort in your faith and accepting this was part of Godβs plan but I-I carried rage that you were leaving everyone behind rage your husband would become a widower, rage your sons would grow up without a mom rage for the grief of everyone who would have to live without you rage that on the 29th of June, there wouldnβt be a random happy birthday from you for William, Miguel and all of the babies in our July mommy group born on that date rage that I didnβt get to know you better and that rage broke my brain, and I drove without a destination maybe it was your spirit that led me back to the safety of my boys but almost a year later I still carry that rage of how I donβt understand why God took you you who still had more than love to give and receive you who was the warmth of a sunny day in human form What was the purpose of your sudden departure?
this is inspired by the 2006 poem, “did I ask for your advice”
well meaning unsolicited advice and opinions from others Made me feel like I was a failure like I wasnβt doing enough to better myself it always comes after a life changing event- a new baby, marriage, and most recently my divorce In my 20s it drove me crazy In my 40s I nod, smile, take whatever is helpful and move on
How long do I have to scroll before the algorithm fucks me up Before the algorithm makes me feel like Iβm not doing enough before I lose my shit and say βthis is bullshitβ and delete all of my social media apps How long do I have to scroll before the algorithm makes me feel better before the algorithm starts to validate my existence Before some random stranger slides into my dms and tells me Iβm pretty
My body slowly starts to rebel against the daily stress I put on it It says, βstop this nonsense, youβre trying to do too much constantly. hardly stopping to catch your breath Constantly moving with a fast pace, tying up your worth with how productive you can be when just breathing, just existing is enoughβ
I was ready to give up Until I felt a sudden caress on my hand you looked at me with desire, and I blushed and our passion was awakened from a year-long deep sleep Is this a short-lived daydream? or the impossibility of our new reality?
my life flashed before my eyes as a fog took over my mind and body What would happen to my ex? What would happen to my kids? they canβt function without me Iβm the one who makes sure the rent and electricity get paid Iβm the one who always takes the initiative to better our family Iβm the one whoβs trying to break generational curses so my kids donβt suffer as much as I did my life flashed before my eyes, and I mentally prepared a list in my head of every one of my childrenβs milestones i would miss out on if God took me now and as the fog finally started to lift I thanked God for his mercy and understood the message from the universe I really need to take better care of myself my health can never be taken for granted Iβm too important for my family, my friends to learn to live without me this was my great awakening
hope is found in a lucid dream- Itβs a whisper reminding me, βit wonβt always be like thisβ itβs my abuela telling me βtu vida apenas estΓ‘ comenzandoβ and I wake from the fog of existential dread Iβve been feeling lately-
another new year is here another season of my life will soon be renewed more chances for new experiences and adventures more opportunities to fuck things up and give fodder to the inner critic in me to emotionally beat me up more time to question myself am I doing enough for me and my kids to prosper more moments of joy and laughter with my boys as they get older and continue to find their autonomy more grief and sadness as the working class and marginalized communities continue to be stepped on more memories made that ignite a spark of creativity within me another new year another transformation under construction
I wrote this poem earlier this month for a future version of myself. I wanted to end 2024 with a hopeful and romantic note.
lighting hits me and Iβm in love all over again this time I take my vows seriously this time I believe in the whole βtil death do us partβ bit this time itβs far from perfect and ideal but for once in my life weβre enough for each other and there are no seconds thoughts that this is true love