I am from Spices

From paintings and pictures

I am from the blissful hospitality

(welcoming, adaptable,

It was a pleasure)

I am from the Jimenoa waterfall

The rich, bright Guinep 

Surrounded by their hospitable leaves

As if i were by my people 

 

I’m from curls and rich skin,

From Edgar and Francisca

I’m from the  “La bendicion” 

            And the  “Con Dioses”

I’m from Come help! And Forget it!

I’m from Albert’s philosophical science

    With such open mindedness

 And principles I can recite 

 

I’m from Santo Domingo in La Española,

Emerald caña and fried plantains.

From the loss of my mother’s childhood

    to buckets of water,

The path my father was forced to follow

 

In the living room was a box

holding moving pictures,

a marvel of memories

lingering in my sleep.

I am from the water--

breeding diverse fruit--

An elixir to induce life.