I wrote this poem in September of 2022.

the plane slowly takes off
and I take flight with it
I leave behind past troubles,past trauma
and go on an adventure
to find healing and the best version of myself
I wrote this in March of 2022.

When I was little, I was often lost in daydreams
about America
It was beautiful and blue
I pictured a celestial and warm ocean
where the waves tenderly touch my toes
I was taught it was a better existence than
the one we were living in
but no one told me that dreams sometimes
donβt come true
and the reality of America was filled with a hardness
that even 35 years later Iβm still processing
indentured servitude, exploitation, depression,
addiction,racism, mental illness were just a few side effects
of going for the American dream
I wrote this poem in September of 2022.

my mother tells me to dress modestly
no loud lipstick, short skirts,tight or revealing clothing
I represent my family and currency in my country
is prestige and social status-
so I need to dress like the hija del ingeniero-
it’s the remnants my parents hold on to from their former lives
so Iβll put on my mask of seΓ±ora de la sociedad
pretend I care about trivial things
mask my true identity of being a socialist, a feminist, and a crazy bitch
Itβs the least I can do for the people who sacrificed themselves
for a better life for me
I wrote this poem in September of 2022.

the prodigal daughter returns to a homeland that she barely remembers
itβs been 32 years since she stepped foot on Peruvian soil
and this feeling is unworldly-indescribable-unimaginable
she was a child when she left
never quite understanding the whys or hows of her familyβs immigration journey
in her adopted homeland, she suffered through hardships and failures
but the ancestors always protected her
from drowning in the immense waves of chaos and disasters, she ended up being tossed in
and sheβll go to their graves and pay reverence to them for shielding her from danger
the prodigal daughter returns, and she feels nostalgia rushing into her body and mind
she is finally where she belongs

blue beetle, spanish music, latinx immigrant representation
inner niΓ±a healing
quechua music blast from my car rain, bird flew over my car
my ancestors giving me encouragement me to share my story
itβs my way to peace and freedom

the sunset at el parque del amor makes me believe
in love again
it makes me believe I wonβt always be holding
on so tightly to my solitude
it makes me believe that I could have
another accomplice to share my life with

What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?
Ceviche, ceviche, ceviche
you are a national treasure to me
your origin is mysterious
your taste is juicy and tasty
ceviche, ceviche, ceviche,
you are an explosion of ecstacy
because you feel like youβre
making love to my mouth
with every bite I melt inside
4/6/2022
I wrote this poem in April of 2024.

thousands of indigenous children never made, never born
Fujimoriβs presumptuous superiority and cruel policies
caused this inhumanity, this crime against the most marginalized
the poorest
robbing thousands of women of their right to procreate
a shameful part of Peruβs history
thousands of indigenous children mourned
who were never planted, never had a chance to bloom
perhaps their existence was a threat to those in power
full of corruption, now weβre never know

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?




escribΓ este poema en Marzo de 2024.

la ira y furia de mis antepasados femeninas viven en mi
ellas me visitan en sueΓ±os y me mandan mensajes
que cuentan sus historias, sus verdades aunque duelan,
aunque algunas me llamaran sΓ‘dica y dramΓ‘tica
ellas me inquietan y me dicen
es tiempo de gritar todas las injusticias
y trastornos vividow
que nuestras muertes no han sido en vano
y aunque lloro y trato de ignorar la llamada de la sangre
es inevitable-fui escogida-
para sus venganzas, para sus historias de redenciΓ³n
I wrote this poem in March of 2024.

wonder how it happened-
the transaction between beatrizβ papi and luis
did beatriz have any say in her future betrothal
did she have dreams as a little girl
about her future husband
did she even love Luis or just tolerate him
because itβs what was expected of her
how did it happen
did she wish for a different life for her daughters
one where they loved their husbands
one where they were treated like humans
and not treated like cattle
escribΓ este poema en febrero del 2024.

dejan su patria por una mejor vida
por el bienestar de su familia
nunca pensando en las consecuencias
de esta decisiΓ³n
nunca pensando del sufrimiento
que este paso puede causar
y al empezar su nueva vida en amΓ©rica
se enfrentar con la dura y cruel realidad
de ser inmigrante
nunca siendo aceptados,
siempre ser tratados como algo menos
de ser humanos
siempre teniendo que trabajas el doble, el triple
para poder sobrevivir
nunca dΓ‘ndose el lujo de parar
para procesar sus sentimientos
o lo que estΓ‘n viviendo hasta aΓ±os despuΓ©s
cuando todo el trauma que vivieron
viene como un huracΓ‘n en su mente,
en su cuerpo que se adueΓ±a de ellos
y no los quiere soltar
I wrote this poem in December of 2022.

erotic stories from my ancestors are still seen in the caves
and uncovered in archaeological digs
people intertwined in every imaginable position-
showing their sexual pleasure shamelessly-
it makes the American and Colonizer catholic girl in me blush and say,
damn, the Incas were some kinky people