she was born on the island of enchantment
where the water is always clear blue
in the first years she grew up eating
mangos and platanos, watching her mother
cook arroz con gandules or garbanzos
which she always hated
at nine she left her mother and island behind
moved to the mainland with her father and brother
to start a new life in Philadelphia – riding trolleys
to catholic schools, chatting with friends
on stoops or spending the afternoon at
the movie theater for a just few coins
she became an adult in New Jersey and
married a son of North Carolina sharecroppers
they made a home with two kids – one sickly
who would become the center of her universe
turning life upside down at times but still
found memories to cherish for lifetimes
despite the passing years of various jobs
to make ends meet or being a caregiver
to all those in need - losing a number of
relatives and friends and still counting
her pennies, she never once lost her faith
and keeps her eyes on an eternal prize
Glossary:
platanos – plaintain
arroz con gandules – rice with pigeon peas
garbanzos – chickpeas
A/N: Originally posted 5/18/16 on poetry blog at http://www.poemsbyarcadiamaria.blogspot.com
Photo courtesy of http://www.elboricua.com/FlorMaga.html.
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Sunrise, Sunset
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