Guerrero-born, California-raised poet Yosimar Reyes tours the country to discuss themes of migration and sexuality. Here is his poem of love.
You tell me you don’t like the city
That these buildings, this concrete
Numbs the senses
Cages the spirit and baby
Your spirit was meant to be free
You my love
Were born to be revolutionary
Like the winds we felt sitting on top of the world
Free like the tobacco you offered me to blow blessings
Free like palabras sagradas que salen de tu boca
Y las rimas femeninas y masculinas that you bust on stage
You are my revolutionary
Not a guerrero but a healer
Because in times of conflict
Mi rey you heal
And more then body I must agree with you that you are spirit
Because more than your flesh I am in love con el Corazon que tienes
You are the reason why I love men with noble hearts
The reason why I don’t mind sharing a bed with someone
For men like you I would ride a million BARTs
Get lost in Oakland
And find your house beneath the brightest star
Mi Vida
You come from tierra
Where the spirits of those who failed to cross over roam
You come from el desierto
But baby we all know you are not deserted
You got me and together we are 4 spirits
Like the 4 directions
You got the creator behind you
you are his creation
His masterpiece
And in this journey you are traveling you have managed to leave
Your footprints in my heart
I carry your breath in my hair
Your teachings in my two spirits
You are fluid
Como los Rios que nuestra gente a cruzado
You remind me that the only possessions we have in this world
Are our bodies and our voice
And the combination of the two must be used
To honor the spirits of los antepasados
This life is a ritual
And in its sacredness
I am so glad that I am able to hug you
You are my revolutionary…
And as you make your transition back home
Into the arms of your mother
Into the lips of your father
I ask that you take this poem with you
Take a memory of me with you
Plant these
En la tierra que te vio nacer
En esa tierra que hacido bautizada
Con la sangre sagrada de nuestra gente
And I will assure you
that where ever you be
This love will sprout a new
Como el sol por las mananas this poem will shine on you.
Now go
to where ever home is
Knowing that in San Jose
You leave a brown boy
That has nothing but love and respect for you.
In the meantime,
I will stay here
in this cage, in this shitty city
Singing and singing
Till this system crumbles
Till borders break
Till the earth shakes
And our people become awake
I will be here
Singing and singing till the day
We are all free to return
HOME.
To Read More INTELIGENCIA stories like this one, go here.
Leave a comment