You are so beautiful.
Everyone sees it and yet most do not.
Everyone sees the infectious smile
the warm blue eyes
and wavy locks.
But do they see the spirit of compassion and berraquera that runs through your blood?
Do they see the deep eyes and wild course hair of the senator
el sastre
or the artists who scream for justice and stand up for those who are too weak from years and years ago?
When you spin your stories they don’t all know the cantaleta
las mamadas
or chismes that brought you to this mixed presence of a porch so you can make your “apple pie.”
White folks take the blue of your eyes and the feel-better-ness of saying a mixed kid is beautiful without
ever seeing
or appreciating
or celebrating
the fullness of your beauty.
JEO
2017