Waking Up With The Sun

How many can say that they rise with the sun

Only to get started with the day’s chores

Starting with the tortillas

Those damn tortillas

As a young girl

Visiting my mom’s birthplace in Michoacan for the first time

I never imagined the sun

Would have made me feel so much disdain

The cold splash of water on my face

Awakens my sleeping soul

“Apurate… con las tortillas”

Why everyday tortillas?  

I rush out the door with a shoe in one hand and

Grandma’s basket in the other

My mother’s warning is enough

I can’t be late

If not, the men won't get to eat

Damn that sun

Why do you come every morning?

You’re that unwelcome friend

You come to take my sleep away

I make my way down the cobblestone road

It's only been a few days

My city legs not yet use to this country road

As rays of light shine on my face, a reminder I can’t be late  

Making it to the tortilleria

“5 kilos de tortillas y tres libras de masa”

por favor...

Freaking tortillas

Another reminder of you, great sun

Vital to our life

Vital to our meal

Couldn’t we eat bread instead?

I make my way through the morning crowd

I wonder...

Do we all share the same disdain

Against the sun?

Running home

These damn tortillas are slowing me down

Damn you sun

Give me more time

Making my way back

Through the labyrinth of streets

“Las Tortillas…”

My mother yelled

“Para empezar el dia”

But my day has already begun

Rising with the sun

Because of tortillas