Sometimes there’s universality in specificity. This Typewriter Rodeo poem was inspired by the author’s grandmother.
Perez Women Have Always Been Beautiful
in their act of taking apart something
to make a new thing. A shedding my skin
feasts on.
I see my face in the tearing
of a soft tortilla. It’s all about amor
here-roll the tortilla up con amor
flip it over con amor, drown the tortilla
in oil con amor
Today, my flautas do not burn.
Today, I’m reminded that I’m
my grandmother’s flesh.
Hot oil pops onto my thumb
& I don’t wince. This is the way to loving
my body-
to breathing the burns on my fingers,
my wrists, my palms.
Each burn, a time I cooked a meal
for myself.
Sat down at the
dinner table with myself.
Passed the salt to myself.
Blessed my food the same way
my grandmother did.
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