Leomis Leon
And in this case, I
was the gift.
And quickly she learned
the new language.
As the creamy, sandy
beaches of D.R.
She said I was the doll
she always wanted:
She learned to fit in.
But she came here
for Mi Nina
Curly hair,
She straightened it out.
Soft burnt caramel skin,
Burnt caramel skin now light
Creamy sandy beaches,
bachata, platanos, cocos,
Big brown eyes staring
back at her.
Beautiful people.
She tells this story and
I blush and I think
because the sun doesn’t
shine in New York
like it does in D.R.
9TH GRADE
MI NINA
I was born January 5, 2001
On the most beautiful
island: La Bella Quisqueya.
We’re clean:
Scrubbing up and
down the walls,
Wow, I am beautiful.
But
Brunette curly hair
Brown eyes and
nice eyebrows…
Well, my eyes are
still brown, and my
eyebrows are still nice.
Untangling curls and
putting them into braids.
I’m not the same
doll anymore.
That’s why I call my
land beautiful.
In D.R. baby Leomis
would cry.
You find pureness of heart,
But when she came here,
But in America,
Pure homes.
New tears would run
down her face.
My Mom cries and
prays at night