(after Sonia Sánchez’s “This is Not a Small Voice”)

 

this is no small isla

you seethis 33 by 100-mile splash of green

this island is large, long, a syncopated song

a sizzling, crimson flamboyán

 

this is no emerald speck

you seefloating between  two  swirling seas

Africa  &  Spain

twirled

Taino DNA

&

new migrations

grew

 

this is not a flash of light

drifting

in a jet-blacknight

 

this is loam & cordillera

caña,plantain,  cascadesof

calloused hands

 

this is no small love

you seethis land

of  Maelo

El Topo

&

don Rafael

parcha-flavored verse

plumeria-scented breeze

 

this love is a porous arcof palm trees

pours itselfon balmy skin

like waterfallson obsidian

this love figure-eightsits hips

un  locksrusted gates

drips guarapofrom its lips

 

this loveis where I am

hermana

negrita

mami…

mi amor

you see,

thisisno small love