coreanas / the shootingelisa chavezDíme coreanasy da el dolorsu apellido. Díme coreana

coreanas / the shooting

elisa chavez

Díme coreanas
y da el dolor
su apellido.

Díme coreanas
como fotos que
la recuerdan de su mamá.

Dices coreana
y significa excepción,
tumba de chinas rotas,
fantasma morena,
plano como ukiyo-e.
Cuando tus vecines
te necesitan, queride,
no quieren la teoría.
Necesita tu voz,
sin excusas.

Tengo una hanbok
sobre mi armario,
rosa y floja
como pulmón.
Lloramos juntas,
invisibles,
en silencio.

Say coriander
fresh from the branch,
parse it.

Say Koran,
five prayers.
The memory of mothers.

Say core of the issue:
Sexism. Class.
Say the worms
and the women they gnaw.

What else
is there
to say?

It’s another rough week in America. I wrote this piece for my friend today, inspired by listening to her experiences over the past few days. She has graciously given me her permission to do so. Be good to yourselves and each other. Listen to your AAPI neighbors and support them in the ways they ask for. Love to you all.