it was like searching for Miguel Pinero
and coming up with Benjamin Bratt
86th and 3rd ave Barnes and Noble
one shelf for my history's past.
in fictional form
cultural diversity
divided and deformed.
on one shelf underneath
asians and blacks
african-american if you prefer it like that
i prefer to be Hispanic
but it's okay don't ask me what I am
just call me Latin, spicy & hot.
Most places I only have a choice
between being Puerto Rican
Chicano Or Other Latino
que pasa?! olvidaron de los otros latinos?!
I'm just another Latino
trying to speak for my people
for the ones who look into america
through a bilingual peephole
to a side much greener
cuz green card means green money
forcing everyone to know what
ayudame plis means, even though america
only knows sorry nada means
fuck The American Dream i
rather read Bodega Dreams
like de la vega said become your dream
even if that means putting aside
all the material things. . .
all i need in this world of sin
is paper & a blue pen
all i need in this world of sin
is a laptop and my fingers
and if i didn't write these words
believe me, the feelings will still linger
in the minds of those who can't read
and expressed through the actions of those
that can't speak
felt in many ways by those that can't see
evil alive
on that one shelf
because sure it's recognition but
that shelf needs more help
and maybe one day
the first listing on Yahoo will be of
the poetry rather than the filmography
of ourselves.
our work rather than our hell
how my mother lived
rather than how my father failed.
como mi abuela cocina rather than
how our food might be to fatty.
because frankly i don't care,
when I'm gone,
my seeds will still be here.
copyright 2004 kristina lopez
