Sound Poem

Open letter to my countries:

America America America I heard America.

There is no place like America.

Warm beaches and stretched out farmlands.

Crowded cities and humble hometowns

yearning for a better living. America?

America.

And isn’t it America that has been the country of underdogs alike?

Who fought for freedom!! For Justice!! For white liberation.

And when I get asked where I’m from there’s a pause.                  

Florida well- not quite Florida it’s Miami and before then Venezuela

But really I was very young so does it even count? Does it count?

What does it mean to be foreign in a place where you’ve lived in your whole life? Well it’s a confusing answer to a confusing question

Filled with confusing back and forths between differing opinions.

First and foremost I remember Venezuela for what it’s worth.

I remember little things like my grandmother’s house,

the drive to school she would take me in

and I remember the beach house and the warm breeze

that glossed over me in Chichiriviche when we drove there with my grandma’s cat.

I remember making hallacas once a year with my family for Christmas

and the way I knew it was my uncle dressed as santa claus

because he was the only one who called my cousin Hector cachorro.

I remember the night coming to America,

waking up lazily in a speeding vehicle

and asking my mom where we were going.

 Being told to go back to sleep I complied

not suspecting there was something else

and there was something else America.

America you took me in right?

After all I’m thankful I guess.

Better here than there here than there

there was no going back as far as I’m concerned

but when your father stages a coup de’tat

against Hugo Chavez himself

it doesn’t LOOK promising.

And that’s what America is right? Promising?

 Well you were gracious to let me in of course

 but your open door doesn’t fool me

shut to so many others like me.

But you’ve kept your promise America so far

so I’ll leave that note for another day.

There was no freedom in my coming here

and there was no justice in what happened.

 I have not been back there although

 I used to fantasize packing my bags

 going for a visit anyways

 and meeting a gun if it meant it.

 I felt prepared enough here in America

with gun stores located right next to

your family friendly arcade.

Make sure It’s locked and loaded Venezuela

you could learn some things from America.

But Venezuela you might have already

with your current situation.

 And how are you Venezuela

I haven’t seen you in a while.

I doubt you look the same you did 15 years ago.

You haven’t aged very well I heard.

 And hear is all I do concerning you.

Phone calls, posts, and texts

But it’s never you just a messenger

Just another family member

 Did I leave you or did you leave me no other option

Since when did you get that scaron your cheek?

 I’ve seen the pictures. Believe me when I say

 I wanted to come back. I wanted you to hold me

with your latin heat and shower me with your soft rains.

But you are not the Venezuela I left behind

or the one my parents speak about.

I can never have that Venezuela back

Kids spoke about visiting all the time

To their home countries I mean

I remember being jealous of them

As a kid because I did not understand

Why I could not go back

And as a young adult because I did understand

Why I could not go back

I became a US citizen for you Venezuela

Don’t look at me with that face

It was the only way I could visit

And you know that

But how can I see my people

When they cannot see each other

When there is no power in the streets

or in their homes.

When each day is met with hungry people

and lack of water and yet my people fight

with more vigor than you ever could

America and why? Don’t you have it all

America? Bigger and better America

 building for bigger and better

things and then-                    A WALL?