Pura

Born to the red, white and blue,

raised to the values of the eagle

on a cactus eating a snake. I stand between two

boarders expected to choose.

¿Porque?

Defined as a Chicana.

Not a gringa. Not a güera.

Not American. Not Mexican.

Both Mexican-American ¾Chicana.

Why divide lands that have made me

who I am. Why live at odds between an

olive branch and a serpent in the eagle’s clutch.

What does that mean

to be an American? a Mexican?

Countries both built by many¾

Spanish, English, Irish, French.

There are no pure bloods in these two worlds,

only settlers and immigrants fighting for the

right to live.

Chicana. Not one but two. Yes, Spanish speaking.

No, not illegal, not selling drugs, not taking jobs.

Just fighting for the right to live.

Defined as a Chicana.

Not a gringa. Not a güera.

Mexican-American.