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My Papa’s Hands

I remember your hands 
The most 
Labor-worn and never smooth 
They were large hands 
Fit for a lumberjack 
Yet old and wise 
Never withered 
Strength within each 
Groove and wrinkle 
Though gentle when you’d 
Lead me through 
Your colorful spring garden 
Blues 
Pinks 
Purples 
All bright in my youthful eyes 
You’d take me there just to see 
My smile
I was there but a flower bud 
Soaking in this day like water 

Prayer

           We are puppets to

Your systems.                 Our only qualification

        Is to be the number that

Satisfies your                  minority quota defenseless

Without                           our heartless haven

     You shoot us              in the streets

Not because of                our words or ideals

But by a                           variation of color

Forgetting         

             that the pavement

    Is stained by the same dark hue

  As we hold our

Fathers,   mothers

Sons,        daughters

Sisters     and brothers

In our       arms at the hour

  Of their death. We

Cling to Our Lady’s

Cloak. Asking not for

Her to crush your head

But for your conversion.

We petition her for another

Guadalupe, Mother

Unite us like you

Did before. Show

them how a mixed-race

Can be Miraculous.