You're growing fonder of me, I can tell.
But the position I'm in hurts like hell.

I love you.
I really think I do.
It may have always been there, or maybe it's something new.

We have nothing in common, you and I.
And to say I didn't care would be a lie.

We're just brown.
Together, in this white town.
That's the only reason you have me around.

You're cocky and scholastic.
genius and bombastic.

Capable of being more
Than the school system's *****.
I hope you discover all that life has in store.

I love you.
But I hate the things you do.

I don't want to be your mom.
I try hard to remain calm.
Even if I think this path is wrong.

You overt your eyes in the hall
And it drives me up the wall

Your dark hair and dark eyes.
The need for normal will be our demise.
Being brown friends is no compromise.

That's why I'm so ******* you.
Even though I don't mean to.

You're too busy with applications
And pursuing dull aspirations
You're lack of time for love fuels my frustration.

But for now I'll shut my mouth.
Let your plan play out.
I'll find other things for us to talk about.

Like how brown we are.

Father Time stood undefeated.
Bonds came close, but Barry Cheated.
Roger Clemens had a career for the ages
but oft fell prey to roid based rages.
Mariano Rivera was a more worthy foe
No pharmacological freak was Mo.
He threw one pitch, his control well learned,
and he chose to leave on his own terms.
I stood up and joined the cheers
the day Rivera last appeared
and, though I wept to see him go,
Time would never lay him low.
Mo Struck out Time, he had it cooking
A called third strike that left Time looking
like Beltran caught in the bright lights
good morning, good Evening and Good NIGHT!

I am from the Bookcase,
from the Bookcase and the Stuffed Puppy.
I am from the white rocks on the ground,
and the dried dirt beneath those rocks.
I am from The Pomegranate Tree
whose Red fruit is both sweet and sour.
I am from the Aole Vera plant and Trampoline.
From Cordon and Beltran.
I am from tall men and little women,
from the know it alls, and the overwhelmers.
I am from my mothers Homemade food,
from her Choco flan, and Carne Asada Fries.
From the religious conversion of my great grandfather,
and from the crash where my grandfather was lost.
The beautiful sky my parents painted on my bedroom’s ceiling.
I am from the black sheep of the family,
Judged and shamed by others for being different.

A Mother Knows
A mother knows, when you are frustrated from the little things of your hair not setting right to the important things, wondering why do I really need to go to school and will I ever get Math.
A mother knows when you are hurting as you lash out because you want everyone to understand your pain and what you’re working through it,
A mother knows when your heart is broken but mending as you cry away your frustration from the one who seems to play the victim in the pain that he helped create.
A mother knows that you have great friends around you who though may not always agree let you vent because it’s want you need to get past it.
A mother knows that that though you may not see it yet, you will be the stronger for this journey.
A mother knows because I’ve walked your path in another life.

Juanita Beltran, Author

Close your eyes,

Now imagine you are an immigrant family who came to America to improve your situation.

Eyes still closed?

Now imagine your family working odd jobs any jobs to improve their situation.
Eyes still closed?

Now imagine your family has grown and have children and are working to improved their situation.

Life has moved on, wars have gone and come. The wall in Germany was torn down uniting that country and the World.

Civil Rights did happen. But you might not know they way History repeats itself.

America has gone through 45 presidents. Our first black president made history, Yes 44 is still missed today.

Eyes still closed.

Now imagine your   children’s children have outlived you and working hard to improve their situation.

Eyes still closed?

Now imagine it is 2019 we have a president who has no clue what it is to struggle to make ends meet, pay bills, put food on the table, make the rent or mortgage.

Who wants to revert back to the days of Germany and build a wall to  separate families, to keep families out who are wanting that American life they hear so much about.

Eyes still closed?

Now imagine ICE agents have come to your families doors to deport them as to tell them they are no longer welcomed in America.

Their years of serving this country meant nothing and their years of building businesses and paying taxes now gone.

Now imagine their children being put in camps like the days of Hilter and not being cared for and some dying.

Wait now open your eyes! What do you see?

It’s our reality today.

Juanita Beltran

One Wish
If I had one wish,
I would do it your way
If I had one wish,
I would make my bed everyday
If I had one wish,
I would hang up that coat your way
If I had one wish,
I would take out the trash on your command
If I had one wish,
I would take off my shoes and relax your way
If I had one wish,
I would wash the dishes your way
If I had one wish,
I would pick up my shoes and put them away your way
If I had one wish,
I would clean my room your way
If I had one wish,
I would want that moment when you laughed so unexpectedly just because
If I had one wish,
I would want that hug you gave just because, they came so unexpectedly
If I had one wish,
I would want that kiss you gave me to wish me good luck, which made me say wow I must have done something right
If I had one wish,
I would ask my lord for that miracle that would bring back home to us.

Juanita Beltran, Author