Uarhíti Vestida en Turhípiti

UARHÍTI VESTIDA eN TURHÍPITI

BY Yesica Vera-Guerrero

I am the woman dressed in black
Have you seen her? 
Is that you, girl 

Hey you little lady in the back—dressed in
black! That is what people call to me. 
How their words burn into me 

How the shame drains all efforts to live,
feelings of disdain and wanting to disappear
Whom blame me but failed me. 
My mother, teachers, and society 
That is how they view me 
Failure without the need to live 

The world passed me by—invisible and
cold, unaware of what the future held 
Insecure, hurt, fragile 

I did not pass the world 
I held onto the world 
The cultures, people, and food 

Although I chose myself 
Anonymous, sad, quiet 
With fierceness and resilient self 

That same quiet girl—dressed in black?
Cried in corners, without a hug or kindness
Dude, stop it. 
It's all in your head 

They have a name—a story. 
Indigenous Muxer dressed in black
Es Uarhíti vestida en Turhípiti 

Recognize me, hear me. 
Yesica. Yesica. Yesica. Present!