La Frontera
By Keyla Limones
I am a daughter of the Frontera,
El Rio Bravo, the Rio Grande.
I am not from here nor from there.
Not belonging to one side or the other.
I am the owner of myself,
My thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Celebrating my women hysteria,
Y menstruación.
If the love I have for myself,
My culture
And my raíces,
Scare the boots off you.
! Qué bueno, that’s good!
It’s great to turn the tables,
For once to occupy space.
My existence is not for me to be quiet.
Porque calladita no me veo más bonita,
And no matter how much pain
History carries,
It is not only our past, but our present.
We all still remember,
The wise dicho of
“Sana sana colita de rana
Si no sanas hoy sanarás mañana.”
All this because of broken hearts
And souls that can be amended
With an order of tacos de asada,
Y una coquita bien helada.
Not belonging to one single place,
Is no longer a burden.
It’s a golden ticket,
That runs through our veins.
The Trinity Review 