in the park
that is my favorite place
my sacred space
where my tears
made the river grow
where i took my little girl
on long walks
where i meditate
unearth old wounds
leave my shadows
rejuvenate
I talk to you
I talk to you
here
and write you letters
with the tips of my eyelashes
Dear Ma,
I know know now
Mami
why you were so proud
to raise us in the Bronx
when i come
to Bronx Park
and look at this river
see the sun break through
the january clouds
feel the breeze against my face
free and clear
I know why you loved the Bronx
yes, you can hear birds chirping here
ambulance sirens on the
Bronx River Parkway
as loud as the crowd
at Yankee Stadium
when Jeter hit home runs
Now like then
yes, you gave us this / the life you
wanted to give us
and our own version / of Central Park
you called your backyard / growing up in El Barrio
your Barrio
January ground coated in shades of orange, rusty brown and
global warm green carpet
Present moment / my shadow long on the concrete path
where I practice ushiro gedi in a hoodi
beneath the shadows of tall oaks
the blue of my childhood
still up there in the sky
Whenever I doubt that God exists
I find somewhere on the planet to ponder the miracle of trees
find a big one and wrap my arms around her
and now whenever I doubt that you
as spirit energy
eternal life
exist
I come to the first place I knew nature
where you connected me to the
Sacred Mother
and I find you
each and every time
Whenever I doubt this truth
I find a big tree
and wrap my arms around her
and hold on
for dear life
