Ojos de tapatio - Maura Velez

I am from the throat scratching stomach burning brandi in my father’s bar

and the smell of carne asada cooking on a gray grill on a summer afternoon

I am from crooked pinky toe’s and big tapatío eyes,

ojos de tapatio

from green bamboo plants only because they never die.

from chile verdes y rojos

and a yellow lemon tree only because it’s essential

I am from tortillas de maiz wrapped in a table cloth, tacos de lengua, asada, pastor and frijoles

because they go with everything.

I am from “La verdad siempre sale, tarde que temprano’ and “Mensa te dije”

I am from the lack of stability my family has in staying in one house not ten

from losing close family over my aunts horrible gossip skills

I am from the tears coming down my mother's cheeks when my aunt told her she had cancer

from luigi coming to live with us and suddenly moving away after his first seizure

from my tio moving in with us after crossing the border.

from my father flipping burgers and attending adult classes too owning a successful business

from “You can't make it your a mexican guy with no money and a family” 

I am undocumented and proud 

and donald trump wont make me bow.