Ma, Cómo estás?
Her vibrant voice expresses a pure joy I have yet to know
Miles and miles away she textures my energy flow
Her eloquent expressions assured me she was a great orator in a past life
But here, she’s had to reserve her power in abeyance
She senses the betraying emotion of her silence
It’s a punishment to have an articulate delivery, but no venue site
Like a performer with no audience, prohibited
She’s found comfort in proclaiming, No English!
No engli—shhhhhhh
Perhaps to hide her cry from the power she’s relinquished
It sits with me
Her presence diminished
J.Mar
Author: J.Mar
I was born and raised in Kern County in an unincorporated area of Kern, CA. My parents moved there in the 90s to make a living as farm workers. Watching them barter their bodies, homelands, and family for a chance at the “American Dream” has caused me to reflect. My writing here is largely the unceremonious unpacking and repacking of what was won and lost in this exchange.
My version of the dream consists of completing a PhD in Public Policy. I currently study public finance, public participation, and remittances in Mexico. I am also generally interested in the Latinx public finance experience.
I’ve learned to be cautiously optimistic about the future.
Lastly, I love plants and cleaning is a freeing ritual to me.
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JMar 