"Thank You For Taking Me to the Library"

Locations

78253
United States
29° 28' 23.9376" N, 98° 48' 51.2136" W
78253
United States
29° 28' 23.9376" N, 98° 48' 51.2136" W

(for my mother)
You taught me language.
how to pronounce my heritage without giving a piece of myself to apology
how to read myself out of my surroundings
how to find grace in something as vulgar as racism and a poor neighborhood
in the south side of San Antonio
you taught me to canvas the public library
like I had some serious business to conduct between the shelves
when my second grade class took a field trip
across the street
to the Cortez
I was the only one who knew her way around
the smallest library in town
I can't count
the number of overdue books we somehow managed to never pay fees for.
we could always afford a drive to a library we'd never been to.
it's the only institution I still believe in.
every section of a city has a building full of books
somewhere near you
there's a grey treasure house disguised as a broken heart
with a blood type that doesn't discriminate
it’s got matches that will start you
and so many stories
it'll make your hands shake
all you have to do is find it
I know love lives in a library
searching the spines for places to sprout
coloring her name into jackets and quiet
and pencils with no erasers
because she doesn't make mistakes
she looks just like my mother
picking my first books
and fixing my mouth around new words and worlds
mis antepasados, my ancestors, fought
for freedoms like this.

my mother became the first poem to change me.
when there was no money for new clothes
my mother loved me in paperback
in the image of my father
in the elasticity of phenomenal
I stand on her shoulders and reach the dreams she couldn't.

though she has little patience and a temper to rival a Texas summer
she didn’t allow me to embrace mediocre.
she read to me
often enough for me to see in words
what I saw in her
Her encouragement wore me like a Christmas tree
when people say that I shine
I know she’s the spark.
the strongest parts of my testimony
can trace themselves to her teaching me the difference
between expected
and extraordinary
For the woman who found magic in the form of a library,
every time I enter one I am home

because you are with me

in the footsteps between impossible and still standing, ever reaching
ever beaming through the aisles of volumes that raised my volume
spoke my silence when I’d swallowed my tongue
and patched stanzas into my speech patterns
so I’d know how to thank you properly

I have become a woman who writes poetry
I believe in my words and therefore myself because of this.
I love our family
up out of that neighborhood
out of the coupons
robberies, migrant work, borders between colors and Spanglish from the blood of a black girl with bronze skin, silver syllables and a lineage worth all the gold in Mexico
every time I read or write in the language of hard working, hell-raising honesty.
Mom, you sound and stand like the signature of strength
and I am in awe
of the cursive you’ve left in my palms.

 

Comments

kalinah.sims

I really felt this, it was very intense and truthful and you know what? I can definitely relate!

Eluhers

I felt this deeply. I, too, relate to this in so many ways. Congradulations, you deserve it. I will remember this poem for my entire life!

kapohochk808

Wow, your an inspiration!

taylormichael19

This is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry I have ever heard or read. Your truly an inspiring person, and I hope to read more of your work someday published in books on library shelves.

arianathepoet

You can purchase copies of my poems at www.arianabrown.com/store.html . Thank you for listening!

Danirae242

This was so good. You made me yearn for my library card and want to wipe the dust from it

iwriting2010

Very honest and inspiring!

Wizdumb

Wow

-Blueblizzard-

I love it. your poem speaks to me in so many ways. keep up the good work.

oreobe15

feeling this... respect

Daphne Hernandez

I think it's enough to say that this made me cry. 

Thank you for putting everything into words for me because I certainly couldn't do it was well as you did.

monasaidwut

AMAZING :)

RachelC

This was beautiful! It reminds me so much of my own mother. Yours sounds extraordinary. 

Cairisma_

You have inspired me Thank You

livieMarie

i almost cried . Was thinking on what to write for my mothers birthday . found inspiration

Mafi Grey

Speechless yet only one word comes to thought, invincibility. 

anonymous7827

This is f*ching beautiful

smooth_harmony

Great peace very inspirational and encouraging

CourtneyBendele

Love it Ariana. Inspiring.

Natalieloves13

This is amazing.

sydalex1

omgg soooo this poem is amazing

Eunoia

I love this. One of the best poems I have seen on here :)

 

you ou touched my soul:) 

slengyel1

This is beyond beautiful. Raw and excellent and inspiring and brilliant. I wish you all the best!!

kb97

This poem is absolutely beautiful, inspiring, even breathtaking and the video is extraordinarily well made. It made me feel what you were saying. You did an absolutely amazing job writing this and I hope you continue to write because I would be thrilled to buy a book with your poetry in it.

brookedossman

This poem was wonderful, i can feel you compassion for your mom

Delora93

"I am in awe of the cursive you've left in my palms"

I too am in awe, bravo! Best poem I've read in a very long while.

ebernard4

Wow. To one day reach that level of eloquence would be a dream!

P0intyP0etryHat

That was amazing. Wow.

dmobley17

This was truly amazing! Your words perfectly expressed raw feelings and moments. I was especially moved by this line: "I stand on her shoulders and reach the dreams she couldn't." It portrays both gratitude and self reliance so well. Thank you for writing this; it was truly moving.

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