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.