In 1978, my family traded San Pedro
Coahuila, México for the Rio Grande
Valley. Each place located in its unique
Parallel world. And even though the
Uproot happened almost forty years ago,
I still ache at the reminiscences of what
We left behind.
Coahuila, México for the Rio Grande
Valley. Each place located in its unique
Parallel world. And even though the
Uproot happened almost forty years ago,
I still ache at the reminiscences of what
We left behind.
We left our bare feet reveling with
The sensation of cool tile in every
Room at the tenement, during scorching
Summers. We left our sun-toasted bodies
From running around unpaved streets
Until nightfall. Mom shouting at us
To stop playing and come in for supper.
The sensation of cool tile in every
Room at the tenement, during scorching
Summers. We left our sun-toasted bodies
From running around unpaved streets
Until nightfall. Mom shouting at us
To stop playing and come in for supper.
We left a susto fastened to a tart-tasting
Membrillo after sneaking into a stranger's
Orchard. Our young hearts beating to the
Rhythm of a horse's hooves when one of
The night guards caught us. His left hand
Gripped the reins, while the other brandished
A black whip up in the air, ready to strike.
Membrillo after sneaking into a stranger's
Orchard. Our young hearts beating to the
Rhythm of a horse's hooves when one of
The night guards caught us. His left hand
Gripped the reins, while the other brandished
A black whip up in the air, ready to strike.
We left behind tongues stained red with
Chili, tingling with lime after licking
An ensalado, a frozen salty treat sold by
A mentally-addled man. He had the magical
Ability to read our coins using only his thumb
And forefinger.
Chili, tingling with lime after licking
An ensalado, a frozen salty treat sold by
A mentally-addled man. He had the magical
Ability to read our coins using only his thumb
And forefinger.
Corpus 2: What We Left Behind
We left rural buses with dusty seats carrying
Us to visit cousins in the nearby ejidos.
They enjoyed watching us work beside
Them at uncle's cotton field. But oh how
They laughed, hot tears stinging their eyes,
When I found a huge hole at the bottom of
My cotton sack after toiling for nearly an hour.
Us to visit cousins in the nearby ejidos.
They enjoyed watching us work beside
Them at uncle's cotton field. But oh how
They laughed, hot tears stinging their eyes,
When I found a huge hole at the bottom of
My cotton sack after toiling for nearly an hour.
We left a panteón in Tacubaya where
Grandpa Mundo's bones have long since
Turned to dust. Grandma Lola died a few
Years later, and we stopped celebrating death.
No more family get-togethers, or gossiping between
Prayers with our cousins on the Day of the Dead.
Grandpa Mundo's bones have long since
Turned to dust. Grandma Lola died a few
Years later, and we stopped celebrating death.
No more family get-togethers, or gossiping between
Prayers with our cousins on the Day of the Dead.
We left cool, mountain water running
Clear from a faucet beneath a regal Pirúl.
Mom used this multi-purpose tree to discipline
Us with its branches, heal us with its leaves,
And give us limpias as often as needed.
Clear from a faucet beneath a regal Pirúl.
Mom used this multi-purpose tree to discipline
Us with its branches, heal us with its leaves,
And give us limpias as often as needed.
We left behind part of ourselves forever.
Julieta Corpus' poetry has been included in various anthologies, such as Writing to Be Heard: Voices from the Chicho, STC's Interstice, and four Valley International Poetry Festival Boundless Anthologies, The Thing Itself, and the Texas Poetry Calendar. Julieta completed her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Texas Rio Grande in May 2016. Julieta is a bilingual translator and hosts poetry events throughout the Rio Grande Valley since 2009.
