After Brynn Saito’s “Love Poem From Another Dimension”
If instead of cutting silence with accented
I lahve you’s, you held your tongue each
time; if instead of attending nietos’ school
performances, you preferred to stay
home; if instead of teaching me at four the
alchemy of abuelo-speaking, you left me
on the porch alone as your abuelos did to
you; if instead of granting blessings to
each partner your children chose, you
dictated their hearts; if instead of taking
your children to Disneyland despite the
bills, you. refused to take them out; if
instead of celebrating their birthdays, you
sent them to the fields as your father did
to you; if instead of desiring fatherhood,
you detested it; if instead of immigrating
to America, you remained behind for God
only knows.; if instead of eloping with
Maria, you returned to that house which
gave fists the same name as love; if
instead of finding hope in another
country, you became the man your father
wanted; if instead you became your
father; if instead you did not become my
mother’s father: know that in at least one
world you did–you survived, you loved,
and you were loved in return.
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Author Bio: Angelina Leaños is a Ventura County Youth Poet Laureate emerita and a second-year MFA student at Fresno State. Additionally, she’s a member of California Poets in the Schools’ Board of Directors and a Poetry Out Loud coach. Angelina’s work has been published by Urban Word, Arkana, Fruitslice, and others.
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Recollections: Of Being is a literary column brought to you by The Collegian, founded and organized by Aura Peredia. We publish writing and art, either political or personal, to create a bridge between varying valley voices.
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Previous Installments of Recollections: Of Being
How to make the first move when you’re both women
The Sculptor
On Living with Dead People 2012
