Posted on

I am from Delis

I am from delis, 
from Now&laters and Ring Pops. 
I am from the gum permanently stuck to the concrete. (I thought 
that's how it was supposed to look)
I am from the night long sirens, 
the fireworks 
which I can’t tell if they are gunshots or 
just late July 4th celebration. 

I am from graffiti and fruit stands, from Lincoln and Grand Concourse. 
I’m from the naturally smart and the trouble kid, 
from make it or break it. I’m from sana sana colita de rana 
si no sana hoy sanará mañana
and some vaporub rubbed on the chest. 

I’m from St. Mary’s and St. Anne’s, caldo de pollo and pastelitos. 
from the tombstone of my grandma 
to the Alzheimers that took my grandpa. The old stories told about 
some uncle we never met. 
a collection of faded people 
alive only in memories. 
I am from moments --
some I created--
some I never witnessed-- 
and some yet to come.
Power Of Vaporub
Chicken on Melrose
Sana Sana
Pastelito
St. Mary’s
Deli Cat
Spongebob in The Bronx
graffiti
third ave

4 thoughts on “I am from Delis”

  2. I found your references in the beginning about delis and fireworks to be very relatable. The pictures you posted also provide me with a sense of nostalgia. I also like your choice of sky blue for the background color.

  3. Hi! I liked them and the references the poem made such as “Sana sana colita de Rana” and the power of Vapor rub. One of my favorite parts of the poem was the end, and how some moments we created, some we never witnessed, and some that are yet to come. The way you structured it and ended it had a nice ring to it.

Comments are closed.