More than one man has reached up my skirt
I’ve stopped asking:
¿Why?
I’ve let a man whistle
from the table for more beer,
& brought it to him
with a smile. I’ve slapped
a man & ran
while he laughed—
atrevida.
I’ve had a miscarriage. I’ve let a man
kiss me
after an abortion
& comforted his hot tears.
I’ve done these things,
while other girls
work in maquilas
piecing together
Dell computer boards,
while other girls
work in brothels,
& cake foundation across
their bruised arms,
while other girls
ride the bus home alone
at night, every night,
while other girls are found
wearing clothes
that don’t belong to them, or no
clothes at all. I’ve done all of this
while other girls are found
with puta
written in blood across
their broken bellies.
My mother used to cover
my eyes
when we’d walk by girls
working the corner,
& say:
See how lucky you are,
not to have to work
like they do? I have been
muy puta,
have been called puta.
Yes, I’d say, very lucky.
■
I’ve stopped asking:
¿Why?
I’ve let a man whistle
from the table for more beer,
& brought it to him
with a smile. I’ve slapped
a man & ran
while he laughed—
atrevida.
I’ve had a miscarriage. I’ve let a man
kiss me
after an abortion
& comforted his hot tears.
I’ve done these things,
while other girls
work in maquilas
piecing together
Dell computer boards,
while other girls
work in brothels,
& cake foundation across
their bruised arms,
while other girls
ride the bus home alone
at night, every night,
while other girls are found
wearing clothes
that don’t belong to them, or no
clothes at all. I’ve done all of this
while other girls are found
with puta
written in blood across
their broken bellies.
My mother used to cover
my eyes
when we’d walk by girls
working the corner,
& say:
See how lucky you are,
not to have to work
like they do? I have been
muy puta,
have been called puta.
Yes, I’d say, very lucky.
■
Hello Friends,
Yesterday’s poem used indentation and italics to indicate two different speakers. Today’s poem by Natalie Scenters-Zapico uses these formal elements in a little less straightforward ways — what does the shape of this poem convey to you? What is the poet’s relationship to other girls?
— Ellen