volume by Christina Butcherhalf-breed and hispanic
she is acutely
aware
of the irrelevance
of these terms
"half-breed hispanic spic"
the words blast through
her mouth like dynamite
create caverns
that thin out and hollow
her thoughts until
she resembles a
jack o lantern
with leering smile
and colored skin
and teeth that
spit
"wetbacks" out
like watermelon seeds
yet she opens her mouth
to gather more oxygen
to absorb the
memory of a landscape
once unfettered and
undefined by
white settlers and
their claims to
bodies
of land.women.water
she rolls this over
in her mind
"property rights"
weighs the pros and cons
against the underside of
her tongue
cogs turning
like a tilt o whirl
she finds that
"minority"
leaves a bitter taste
and empty promises
voluminous,
empty promises
from men with
voluminous
pockets
01/05/2010 Posted on 01/06/2010 Copyright © 2025 Christina Butcher
Member Comments on this Poem |
Posted by Nanette Bellman on 01/06/10 at 07:25 PM It's amazing how certain words that are meant to wound us, don't. But words you think wouldn't, do. Great way to capture this. |
Posted by Kimberly Bowen on 02/28/10 at 10:35 PM "jack o lantern
with leering smile
and colored skin
and teeth that
spit "
I adored this line...such a great picture. This poem is beautiful in it's intensity, topic, and craftmanship.
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