Hijo’s Incantation

Padre, ¿acuerdas when we split

one room with ten other immigrants?

Desearía tener my own space, but now, acercate –

descansa su cuerpo not six feet in the soil but one breath away.

Y cuando te vas, tell me there is room for one more

in your tomb. Dime que hay espacio for

one last embrace in the grave.

Potion for Abuelo-Speaking

1. Purchase three bundles of garbanzos

a. Gather the most authentic ingredients off the roadside between Fifth and Wooley

b. Da gracias al señor before departing — gratitude makes potions easier to consume

2. Find the road of dodging

a. To do so, you must exit Rose Avenue before it becomes the PCH

b. Do not be tempted by the ocean — the city is your only covenstead

3. Prepare two chairs where the porch once stood

a. Seat yourself in the smaller one — do this in memory of your childhood

b. When Tito arrives, invite him to join you for the ritual

4. Begin plucking pods from their mother branch

a. Listen to the melody of Tito chewing half his harvest

b. If you feel so curious, split one open with your teeth

c. Cradle the peas before consumption — tenderness makes them sweeter

5. Add the remaining harvest to a bowl and season with Tito’s laughter

6. When Tito asks about your day, do not stay silent

a. Consume a garbanzo and answer

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.

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.

For previous installments of Recollections: Of Being, click here.