Latina Poetry as Humanitarian Feminism: Women's Rights

REVERSE SUPPRESSION OF MY RIGHTS: Mother Father


Dejeenlo que se olvide de me querer para dejarme
Que me muera con mi pena y mi orgullo
Ser Mujer que escucha a Alicia, a Lila, a Lorna.
Latinas, what are we if not a Revolving Muse
who’ve inspired a War to Change the World
according to Humanitarian Feminism?
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah I’m Comfortable with my
Charms, my Intersectional Analysis, a Ring
or Not on my Finger, a passion for Books,
Books, Books….I love to Read and to Think
and to be Free. If I were Dulcinea to a Fool
like my Don Quixote I was too the Teller
of not One Thousand but Endless Infinitesimally
Intricate Verses….A Machine of Words? Small
Stature of Momentous Forces, a Filigree
as of Lace, built in Black Oil forged and with
Feathers…A Changling am I that Observes
My Mistaken Birth, Dr. Asperger, you Know
My Name: I’m Autism Unveiled. Rhythms
of Life are set to my Specifications: Flower
Powder I inhaled, a GoldenSeal Tea, Sí Mami
me lo tome como Usted me Dijo que lo hiciera.
Ahora espero con Ansias que regresaramos
A Platicar de tu Vida, Mamá y de Mis ancestros.


This Sonnet is a Fictional Work. Any perceived, apparent, or implied relationship to entities or persons is coincidental.

Que Viva la Vida Harmonia

Musesita Traviesa, Caracol
de mi harmonia, le Saludo
primero a la Madre reina,
Maria Agripina Auto
didacta...se enMaestró,
palabras que abren a las aaa's
somos Vivos sobrevividores
aunque un tanto menos Vivos,
a la biblioteca de Inocencia
iremos para aguantar al eXilio
vamos a ver a la Mama Grande,
la que no Conoce a ningun Miedo
por haber Conquistado a la Mera
Mas Feroz que es la Vida C/S

Tú que tienes buenos ojos: Mama taught me to Thread the Needle

Mama taught me to thread my needle,
hold the strand like a head between the thumb
and forefinger--tú que tienes buenos
ojos, insártame a la abuja--from
below the tip I pinch the fiber, wet
with a drop of spit if it is frayed, aim
like an arrow for the eye of the pin.
First try, it's in. Tie a knot at the end
So I make my stitch joining two pieces
of cloth to make a seam. That's how Mama
taught me to sew and though I'm out of time
or will soon be (each sonnet's got to end)
just another one to go, no ruffle,
then here's the 14th line which is my hem.