"chicana" poems - Hello Poetry

I love being Chicana because it gives me a sense of belonging. I hate being Chicana because I am not a true Latina, nor am I a true American. I love being Chicana because of the authentic food my family brings to the table. I hate being Chicana because people assume that all I eat are burritos. I love being Chicana because I was born with the ability to move my hips and dance in a way most white girls can’t. I hate being Chicana because I look white and not Mexican. I love being Chicana because it gives me a reason to embrace a beautiful language. I hate being Chicana because people automatically think I can speak English and Spanish perfectly. I love being Chicana because I have the most caring family. I hate being Chicana because I was raised in a lower-middle class household. I love being Chicana because I was raised to learn and appreciate the value of everything. I hate being Chicana because I am expected to bear children and marry a hard-working man. I love being Chicana because it sets me apart. I hate being Chicana because I am expected to know American history as well as Mexican history. I love being Chicana because I was born in a free country. I hate being Chicana because I feel out of place when I travel to Mexico. I love being Chicana because I have created goals for myself that no one ever expects me to me reach simply because I am Chicana. I hate being Chicana because people don’t believe in me or my abilities. I love being Chicana because I have the strength and willpower to prove them wrong.

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Jan 28, 2016

Jan 28, 2016 at 2:17 PM UTC

She was lost in East L.A. She was told she could be found That she’d feel something profound Once she walked over the streets Once she would smell, touch and hear Once she read the signs Admired the murals And entered each Laundromat.

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Jan 19, 2014

Jan 19, 2014 at 3:23 AM UTC

xuanito-de-la-puente

Chicana Homeland

She was lost in East L.A. She was told she could be found That she’d feel something profound Once she walked over the streets Once she would smell, touch and hear Once she read the signs Admired the murals And entered each Laundromat.

8

You, saying love You, shaman's road You, a bird You, a yellow sun You, Emperor You, lovely door You, my Walt Whitman You, Neal You, Sal Paradise You, Pancho Villa You, La Revolución Mexicana You, navajo You, the border You, the river You, chicana You, Mafia You, redemption You, poetry You, Salvador Dalí You, Picasso You, stereo You, love You, *** You, youth You, America You, América You, español You, english You, country side You, cat You, fire You, books You, E. E. Cummings You, Bukowski You, Octavio Paz You, Coca-Cola You, Coke You, India You, Mississippi You, jazz You, Miles You, Davis You, water You, rain You, lagoon You, chest You, car You, road You, reading You, lines You, Paris You, Baudelaire You, Poe You, japanese You, katana You, Mishima You, gun You, rifle You, cam You, can You, can't You, Durango You, Arizona You, desert You, gonzo You, mezcal You, alcohol You, drive You, crush You, alive You, again

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Jun 3, 2013

Jun 3, 2013 at 3:16 PM UTC

turco-dimas

Down with law

You, saying love You, shaman's road You, a bird You, a yellow sun You, Emperor You, lovely door You, my Walt Whitman You, Neal You, Sal Paradise You, Pancho Villa You, La Revolución Mexicana You, navajo You, the border You, the river You, chicana You, Mafia You, redemption You, poetry You, Salvador Dalí You, Picasso You, stereo You, love You, *** You, youth You, America You, América You, español You, english You, country side You, cat You, fire You, books You, E. E. Cummings You, Bukowski You, Octavio Paz You, Coca-Cola You, Coke You, India You, Mississippi You, jazz You, Miles You, Davis You, water You, rain You, lagoon You, chest You, car You, road You, reading You, lines You, Paris You, Baudelaire You, Poe You, japanese You, katana You, Mishima You, gun You, rifle You, cam You, can You, can't You, Durango You, Arizona You, desert You, gonzo You, mezcal You, alcohol You, drive You, crush You, alive You, again

71

i am my grandmother’s small and plump tears when she thinks of her pueblo. i am my mother’s broken english as she greets the cashier. i am my sister’s abandoned dreams, her acceptance letter is etched into my palm. i am my brother’s path to citizenship along with all the photographic evidence. i am my brother in law’s laughter when he speaks to the nephew he has never met. i am the ever constant fear of being denied a home. i am the secrets carried on backs through miles and miles of desert. i am the pan dulce on sunday mornings. i am the mole and carnitas at birthday parties. i am the thick hair on arms. i am the first bite of a burger king hamburger after years of poverty. i am the first item of clothing bought at a kmart after years of patching up old clothes. so how dare you think less of me? you do not know what i carry. all this pain. all this joy. all this strength. i am chicana. the bridge between two worlds. i will not be burned down.

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Jan 10, 2018

Jan 10, 2018 at 4:22 PM UTC

aneterz

yo soy...

i am my grandmother’s small and plump tears when she thinks of her pueblo. i am my mother’s broken english as she greets the cashier. i am my sister’s abandoned dreams, her acceptance letter is etched into my palm. i am my brother’s path to citizenship along with all the photographic evidence. i am my brother in law’s laughter when he speaks to the nephew he has never met. i am the ever constant fear of being denied a home. i am the secrets carried on backs through miles and miles of desert. i am the pan dulce on sunday mornings. i am the mole and carnitas at birthday parties. i am the thick hair on arms. i am the first bite of a burger king hamburger after years of poverty. i am the first item of clothing bought at a kmart after years of patching up old clothes. so how dare you think less of me? you do not know what i carry. all this pain. all this joy. all this strength. i am chicana. the bridge between two worlds. i will not be burned down.

29

These low income kids need more motivation My teachers don’t know the problems we are facing I am not a rich privledged girl I am a chicana, raised in the ghetto type of girl Let me take you inside of my world Just next to my house is where the gangsters meet If you say something wrong They’re quick to leave you dead in the street Graffiti and gang signs is all you see on the walls If you take a walk and hear shots You wouldn’t want to be in deep Cops can stop you just because they can People like us, do you really think they give a **** My brother is always getting stopped by a white man They tell him “Put your hands over your head” Any sudden movement and he is for sure dead In the night the guns are pulled Gang enemies coming over Looking for problems up to no good The street rules are in place like it would Gun shots and sirens are playing in the background of my hood Poverty makes times even more rough I didn’t get new kicks for Christmas I guess it’s just my luck I have faith in God that I will get out of being stuck I have decided I have had enough...

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Dec 30, 2017

Dec 30, 2017 at 1:39 AM UTC

chicana

Livin’ in the Ghetto

These low income kids need more motivation My teachers don’t know the problems we are facing I am not a rich privledged girl I am a chicana, raised in the ghetto type of girl Let me take you inside of my world Just next to my house is where the gangsters meet If you say something wrong They’re quick to leave you dead in the street Graffiti and gang signs is all you see on the walls If you take a walk and hear shots You wouldn’t want to be in deep Cops can stop you just because they can People like us, do you really think they give a **** My brother is always getting stopped by a white man They tell him “Put your hands over your head” Any sudden movement and he is for sure dead In the night the guns are pulled Gang enemies coming over Looking for problems up to no good The street rules are in place like it would Gun shots and sirens are playing in the background of my hood Poverty makes times even more rough I didn’t get new kicks for Christmas I guess it’s just my luck I have faith in God that I will get out of being stuck I have decided I have had enough...

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