S tre e t R oo ts • J u ly 1 3 -1 9 , 2 0 1 8
Street Poetry
P ag e 13
Farmworker
by Juanita Rivera Laush
I am on my knees,
In church, my spirit kneels before God.
On the border I crouch,
At the mercy of patrols: Mexican, American,
In the fields, I stoop to harvest,
Feeding the world abundantly
My family barely.
I have been brave,
A military hero in revolutions, wars.
Often a brave woman, equal, by my side,
In combat for causes, crusades, conquests,
Fighting for Spain, Mexico, America.
Facing countrymen to elect leaders
Respectful of the people’s needs.
I enjoy
The music of my culture,
Rich with strings, sharp with trumpets.
It brings tears with sad ballads,
Pageantry with parading bands,
Patriotism with songs of heroism and valor,
Passion with lyrics of love.
I struggle to
Survive in migrant camps,
Overcome the indignities of filth, poverty
Find a voice in another language,
Be heard by land owners, lawmakers,
Improve the lives of my children, my people,
Restore my pride.
I am rising
Education pulls my mind from slavery,
Bids me stand taller,
Sending my sights above the fields,
Learning, being helped by others
Into positions that can change my life.
Enrich my children’s lives.
I celebrate
Happiness of church feast days,
Warmth of hospitality with food, laughter,
Radiance of bride and bridegroom
Dancing amid families and friends,
A baptized baby’s cry,
Wonderous smiles of mother and father.
I work,
My family works together in fields,
At home, on our own farms,
Sometimes a country and a culture away,
Money earned by all, shared by those in need.
Work is a way of life,
Giving pride, independence, self-worth.
I am emerging,
Ancestry no longer hidden,
Cultural truth told with ethnic pride,
Roots that boast kings, presidents, artists,
Draw strength and dignity from peasants.
My race a blend of Indian, Spaniard, Mexican
Impressed upon my proud brown face.
I am optimistic
About elevation of my people
With endurance, work, creativity, ability.
Dreams puli me up.
I rise, no longer stooping in the fields.
I stand tall, looking forward, upward,
With faith in manana and God’s will.
I rejoice m
The colors of my life ,
Woven into beautiful serapes
Worn in contrast to brown skin, black hair.
Murals painted on adobe walls,
Rainbows thrown on simple altars
By sun through stained glass windows.
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