"quinceanera" poems - Hello Poetry

In Spanish, VIVIR means To Live, the proper conjugation of which to when you say something as improper as “I live” would simply be translated to “Yo Vivo”. I live, as a Colombian-American. I live, as “You don’t look Hispanic” I live, “Woah! You and your brother look nothing alike. You’re so… white.” I live, “My mom came home once and talked about a man who simply replied with a horribly pronounced “Me gusta” when my mom said she was Hispanic.” I live, “My dad condones abusive behavior because he thinks Latina aggression is **** I live, my mom asking me “Would you rather celebrate the Sweet Sixteen or have a quinceanera party?” I live, as the white boy sitting across the room in Spanish class asking “When will I need this in real life?” I live, as the “Yes I DO have a friend with a skin complexion similar to mine, and yes, he is Hispanic.” I live, most of my friends are beautiful people of color. I live, when will you open up the tab in Google and search some Hispanic History to fill your mind instead of “Latina **** I live, the messages on the Internet saying “You’re Hispanic? I bet you’re great in bed.” I live, there are NO gender neutral nouns in Spanish I live, yes I DO love coffee I live, no it did NOT stunt my growth I live, one kiss per cheek at family meet-ups I live, “Eskimo” nose rubs I live, "if you’re hispanic, why aren’t your ears pierced?" I live, being expected to remember Spanish just because it was my first language, but growing up with an American dad made me whiter than fresh bed-sheets sold in America, made in South America, Hecha en Peru. I live, my mom breaking into tears as she is so proud that I can sing in Spanish I live, my mom used to be so embarrassed, when I replied “un poco” to her friends asking “Tu Hablas Espanol?” I live, "if you’re Hispanic, is your mom an Alien?" I live, "But your dad looks so white!" I live, being subject to racism hidden in a joke, hidden in a remark about how pale I am, hidden behind a judgmental look, hidden behind a scoff, a laugh, a pity shrug, a fetishized assumption. I live the bulletproof clothing and horrible crimes I am warned about when I say I wanna go to Colombia I wanna go to my mom’s home. I live, as a Colombian-American. I live. Yo vivo.

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Dec 28, 2015

Dec 28, 2015 at 8:19 PM UTC

sar-lopez

I live, Yo Vivo

In Spanish, VIVIR means To Live, the proper conjugation of which to when you say something as improper as “I live” would simply be translated to “Yo Vivo”. I live, as a Colombian-American. I live, as “You don’t look Hispanic” I live, “Woah! You and your brother look nothing alike. You’re so… white.” I live, “My mom came home once and talked about a man who simply replied with a horribly pronounced “Me gusta” when my mom said she was Hispanic.” I live, “My dad condones abusive behavior because he thinks Latina aggression is **** I live, my mom asking me “Would you rather celebrate the Sweet Sixteen or have a quinceanera party?” I live, as the white boy sitting across the room in Spanish class asking “When will I need this in real life?” I live, as the “Yes I DO have a friend with a skin complexion similar to mine, and yes, he is Hispanic.” I live, most of my friends are beautiful people of color. I live, when will you open up the tab in Google and search some Hispanic History to fill your mind instead of “Latina **** I live, the messages on the Internet saying “You’re Hispanic? I bet you’re great in bed.” I live, there are NO gender neutral nouns in Spanish I live, yes I DO love coffee I live, no it did NOT stunt my growth I live, one kiss per cheek at family meet-ups I live, “Eskimo” nose rubs I live, "if you’re hispanic, why aren’t your ears pierced?" I live, being expected to remember Spanish just because it was my first language, but growing up with an American dad made me whiter than fresh bed-sheets sold in America, made in South America, Hecha en Peru. I live, my mom breaking into tears as she is so proud that I can sing in Spanish I live, my mom used to be so embarrassed, when I replied “un poco” to her friends asking “Tu Hablas Espanol?” I live, "if you’re Hispanic, is your mom an Alien?" I live, "But your dad looks so white!" I live, being subject to racism hidden in a joke, hidden in a remark about how pale I am, hidden behind a judgmental look, hidden behind a scoff, a laugh, a pity shrug, a fetishized assumption. I live the bulletproof clothing and horrible crimes I am warned about when I say I wanna go to Colombia I wanna go to my mom’s home. I live, as a Colombian-American. I live. Yo vivo.

28

"You're Mexican?! You don't look Mexican?" "What's Mexican supposed to look like?" "Oh, you know... Sombrero, a curly twirly mustache, maybe like holding a taco!" "I am eating a taco." "No, like a real taco. One that is like made in Mexico, with like Mexican beans, and Mexican ladies. You know what I mean." "No, I don't." "What's it like? Did you have a quinceanera thingy? Do you speak Spanish?" "No and no." "What?! Then you like aren't a real Mexican. All Mexicans can habla Espanol." "Oh, you know what. I forgot. I know what it is." "What?" "I'm not just Mexican, I'm German too." "That makes like total sense. No wonder you can't speak Spanish. But wait, like were your family Nazis?"

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May 5, 2017

May 5, 2017 at 11:34 AM UTC

hailynsuarez

You're so like, Ethnic

"You're Mexican?! You don't look Mexican?" "What's Mexican supposed to look like?" "Oh, you know... Sombrero, a curly twirly mustache, maybe like holding a taco!" "I am eating a taco." "No, like a real taco. One that is like made in Mexico, with like Mexican beans, and Mexican ladies. You know what I mean." "No, I don't." "What's it like? Did you have a quinceanera thingy? Do you speak Spanish?" "No and no." "What?! Then you like aren't a real Mexican. All Mexicans can habla Espanol." "Oh, you know what. I forgot. I know what it is." "What?" "I'm not just Mexican, I'm German too." "That makes like total sense. No wonder you can't speak Spanish. But wait, like were your family Nazis?"

17

You have no idea what it’s like to grow up without a father. To grow up without any brothers or sisters. If a little girl grows up without a father she is lost in the world, not knowing who to trust. Grows up with a different expectation of men, that they’ll run out on you, just like their father. The feeling I get when I see my friends with their father and brothers/sisters is completely devastating. The feeling when I see a father with their child, so loving and protective of them… I wish I had that. When I see father-daughter dances at quinceaneras or any type of party, I get the feeling of emptiness in the pit of my stomach. Looking back I realize how much I wanted to burst into tears on the day of my quinceanera because I wasn't having a father-daughter dance. There is no father figure in my life. I absolutely despise it when people treat their brothers/sisters unfairly. They are so lucky to grow up with siblings. I’m never gonna be an aunt and have nieces/nephews. I don’t have an older sister to go to for advice, have the time of our lives while we sneak out, try new things with, or to explore the world with. I don’t have an older brother to look out for me, tease when he gets in trouble, or have his shoulder to cry on if I’m going through a breakup. I would love to have siblings younger than me so I can help guide them through life, show them what I've been through and make sure they never have to feel that much pain. I know everyone has to go through pain in their life but I would at least try to shield them from the worst. Tell them what’s right and to not go through the wrong path. Most of all I wish my mother would act like a mother. You’re not a teenager anymore mom. Stop going out to party, you go out more than I do. And that says a lot. You didn't raise me, grandma and Tia did. You were busy partying with your friends. I wish I could meet my father. I never wanted to meet him before but now I feel like it’s time. Then again he left for a reason, right?

0

Feb 24, 2015

Feb 24, 2015 at 1:53 PM UTC

teentrxsh

Family?

You have no idea what it’s like to grow up without a father. To grow up without any brothers or sisters. If a little girl grows up without a father she is lost in the world, not knowing who to trust. Grows up with a different expectation of men, that they’ll run out on you, just like their father. The feeling I get when I see my friends with their father and brothers/sisters is completely devastating. The feeling when I see a father with their child, so loving and protective of them… I wish I had that. When I see father-daughter dances at quinceaneras or any type of party, I get the feeling of emptiness in the pit of my stomach. Looking back I realize how much I wanted to burst into tears on the day of my quinceanera because I wasn't having a father-daughter dance. There is no father figure in my life. I absolutely despise it when people treat their brothers/sisters unfairly. They are so lucky to grow up with siblings. I’m never gonna be an aunt and have nieces/nephews. I don’t have an older sister to go to for advice, have the time of our lives while we sneak out, try new things with, or to explore the world with. I don’t have an older brother to look out for me, tease when he gets in trouble, or have his shoulder to cry on if I’m going through a breakup. I would love to have siblings younger than me so I can help guide them through life, show them what I've been through and make sure they never have to feel that much pain. I know everyone has to go through pain in their life but I would at least try to shield them from the worst. Tell them what’s right and to not go through the wrong path. Most of all I wish my mother would act like a mother. You’re not a teenager anymore mom. Stop going out to party, you go out more than I do. And that says a lot. You didn't raise me, grandma and Tia did. You were busy partying with your friends. I wish I could meet my father. I never wanted to meet him before but now I feel like it’s time. Then again he left for a reason, right?

1