Sonoran Song
Mom didn’t know, Dad didn’t know
even if they’d run across fences
before, they didn’t foresee my knees
crashing into cactus needles that night
one shoe slipped off. She says Coyote
said I’ll carry him to your front door
myself, Pati. She didn’t know 110 degrees,
saguaros, no compass to run
north when like Colorado River toads
we slid under bushes—officers yelled
¡On your fucking knees! You couldn’t have
known this could happen, Mom.
You couldn’t have. No es su culpa.
No lo es.
To the President-Elect
There’s no fence, there’s a tunnel, there’s a hole in the wall, yes,
you think right now ¿no one’s running? Correction: the drybacks
sweat, shadow, shit their shit there for the cactus. We craved
water;
water;
our piss turned the brightest yellow—I am not the only nine-
year-old
year-old
that has slipped my backpack under the rancher’s fences. I’m still
in that van that picked us up from “Devil’s Highway.” The white
van
van
honked three times, honks heard by German shepherds,
helicopters,
helicopters,
Migra trucks. I still don’t know where the drybacks are that
ran deep
ran deep
with dogs chasing after them. But I do know, at night they return
and say sobreviviste bicho, sobreviviste carnal. Yes, we
over-lived.
over-lived.
Thoughts on the Anniversary of My Crossing the Sonoran Desert
June 10, 1999
i.
first day inside a plane I sat by the window
like when I ride the bus
correction when I rode buses
below the border I sat
by the window attention
to dogs under a mango
trash under parked cars
drunk passed out or dead
on the ground
first day inside a plane I sat by the window
like when I ride the bus
correction when I rode buses
below the border I sat
by the window attention
to dogs under a mango
trash under parked cars
drunk passed out or dead
on the ground
I sat by plane window
same afternoon I crossed
desert the third time
was not nervous at white
people at terminal
all those questions this language
did not cry did not stop
looking out the window
watching for Statue
of Liberty Golden
Gate Disneyland
Miami
same afternoon I crossed
desert the third time
was not nervous at white
people at terminal
all those questions this language
did not cry did not stop
looking out the window
watching for Statue
of Liberty Golden
Gate Disneyland
Miami
i.
we were lost and didn’t know which star
was north what was east west we all
dropped out of the van too soon to remember
someone said the sun rose east we circled
so much we had no maps and the guide we paid
twisted his ankle was slowing us down
we were lost and didn’t know which star
was north what was east west we all
dropped out of the van too soon to remember
someone said the sun rose east we circled
so much we had no maps and the guide we paid
twisted his ankle was slowing us down
we couldn’t leave him why
asked the ones that walked ahead
whispered they’d heard coyotes fake they’re hurt
circle and circle so much they make it seem they tried
but all they did was steal money
asked the ones that walked ahead
whispered they’d heard coyotes fake they’re hurt
circle and circle so much they make it seem they tried
but all they did was steal money
I don’t know
his ankle was swollen he was feverish
it’s true
the sun’s heat was a reptile but I know
if we didn’t leave him
we’d still be there
run-over toads
his ankle was swollen he was feverish
it’s true
the sun’s heat was a reptile but I know
if we didn’t leave him
we’d still be there
run-over toads
i.
I was happy when the van picked us up
took me to parents
I was happy when the van picked us up
took me to parents
I didn’t recognize Dad
different from pictures
different from pictures
he remembers the smell
oh the smell shit piss dust in your hair
he says now
crying
oh the smell shit piss dust in your hair
he says now
crying
Mom had a bag with Nikes
Levi’s Star Wars
Episode One shirt
Levi’s Star Wars
Episode One shirt
I left my ripped clothes
inside a Ross fitting room
inside a Ross fitting room
I’m tired of writing the desert
that van
thirst the fence
I’m tired it’s always that
that van
thirst the fence
I’m tired it’s always that
even now
outside United Airlines 18F
I see clouds first like quilt
then like cheese
melting in a plastic bag
under that creosote
next to those
empty gallons
of water
outside United Airlines 18F
I see clouds first like quilt
then like cheese
melting in a plastic bag
under that creosote
next to those
empty gallons
of water
i.
javier here you go
about same shit
when will your status change
javier here you go
about same shit
when will your status change
when will you stop
rambling about not being there
this is not that June 10
rambling about not being there
this is not that June 10
let it go man
you’re not inside that Tucson fitting room
this is not Abuelita
you’re not inside that Tucson fitting room
this is not Abuelita
who you couldn’t call
those eight weeks
she lit a candle every night
those eight weeks
she lit a candle every night
to light your path wherever you went
Abuelita
who you can’t call
Abuelita
who you can’t call
every two weeks
you can’t even tell her
la quiero
you can’t even tell her
la quiero
la quiero mucho
it’s only here
in a language she don’t speak
it’s only here
in a language she don’t speak
i.
I left Grandpa in Guatemala
for eight weeks no one heard my voice
for eight weeks
no one slept
I left Grandpa in Guatemala
for eight weeks no one heard my voice
for eight weeks
no one slept
twice parents packed the car said
I’m going to the border
I’m going to the border
then at 1 a.m.
someone called said
you the parent of Javier nine years old
from El Salvador
yes
someone called said
you the parent of Javier nine years old
from El Salvador
yes
órale
it’s gone be fifteen hundred
cash
can you get to Tucson
tomorrow
yes
it’s gone be fifteen hundred
cash
can you get to Tucson
tomorrow
yes
órale
near Phoenix
call this number
near Phoenix
call this number
i.
to write I look for words in books
little ants Abuelita calls words
right now it’s bonsai
to write I look for words in books
little ants Abuelita calls words
right now it’s bonsai
that makes me think father
he made the one in a black pot in the living room
when I first walked into Mom and Dad’s apartment
first day in this country
he made the one in a black pot in the living room
when I first walked into Mom and Dad’s apartment
first day in this country
correction
first furnished living room in this country
if you count the coyote warehouse
aka an empty apartment
in some Tucson suburb
my first dawn here
I spent it dreaming about what furniture should be where
in that living room carpet used as bed
first furnished living room in this country
if you count the coyote warehouse
aka an empty apartment
in some Tucson suburb
my first dawn here
I spent it dreaming about what furniture should be where
in that living room carpet used as bed
the smell of all fifty of us who waited for family
to pay so we could take different vans
to different states
to pay so we could take different vans
to different states
in that ceiling’s white bumpy surface
I played a movie I wanted to see
Mi Vida Gringa
I played a movie I wanted to see
Mi Vida Gringa
I was ready to be gringo
speak English
own a pool
white picket fence
Jeep truck convertible
speak English
own a pool
white picket fence
Jeep truck convertible
I was ready
I was ready
I went to sleep
I was ready
I went to sleep
i.
Abuelita won’t leave the house
hasn’t left in years
hasn’t will not
leave
no bullshit
no metaphor
Abuelita won’t leave the house
hasn’t left in years
hasn’t will not
leave
no bullshit
no metaphor
she won’t shower
won’t walk to the market
pero they’ll talk
what will they say
she says
won’t walk to the market
pero they’ll talk
what will they say
she says
who is they
and who cares
we say through the phone
on the table
by her door
we’ve all walked out of
and who cares
we say through the phone
on the table
by her door
we’ve all walked out of
her hair knots a dread
in the back of her short hair
in the back of her short hair
like a microphone
cousin says
cousin says
my little microphone head
won’t shower
won’t sit on a chair
watching people walk by
like she did
when we were there
won’t shower
won’t sit on a chair
watching people walk by
like she did
when we were there
i.
I wasn’t born here
I’ve always known this country wanted me dead
I wasn’t born here
I’ve always known this country wanted me dead
do you believe me when I say more than once
a white man wanted me dead
a white man wanted me dead
a white man passed a bill
that wants me deported
that wants me deported
wants my family deported
wants us dead
wants us dead
a white man a white man a white man
not the song I wanted to hear
not the song I wanted to hear
driving to the airport today
the road the trees the signs the sky the cars the walls the lights
the road the trees the signs the sky the cars the walls the lights
told me we want you dead
out out out out
out out out out
i.
a few hours ago I boarded a plane
tried to cut ahead with Group A
usually I’m not caught I was stopped
the flight attendant told me wait
it’s not your turn I started sweating
I wore white the worst
color for sweat my back drenched
until she let me through I was
in the gate in the plane 18F
a few hours ago I boarded a plane
tried to cut ahead with Group A
usually I’m not caught I was stopped
the flight attendant told me wait
it’s not your turn I started sweating
I wore white the worst
color for sweat my back drenched
until she let me through I was
in the gate in the plane 18F
when I got to SFO
I took Marin Airporter to San Rafael
same bus I took when I first saw
the Golden Gate
how magical
like a mountain
I’d never dreamed then
waiting in that line
at the US embassy
when I tried and tried for a visa
like mom like dad like aunts
and we all got denied
I took Marin Airporter to San Rafael
same bus I took when I first saw
the Golden Gate
how magical
like a mountain
I’d never dreamed then
waiting in that line
at the US embassy
when I tried and tried for a visa
like mom like dad like aunts
and we all got denied
if only there was a well
an opening in the dirt
and we had a bucket to drop
and a rope to pull
if only we could capture
clouds with nets to suck
if only cotton candy grew
on cacti and sodas
and horchata too
an opening in the dirt
and we had a bucket to drop
and a rope to pull
if only we could capture
clouds with nets to suck
if only cotton candy grew
on cacti and sodas
and horchata too
i.
there must be little pine needles
stuck in my brain to not let me concentrate
on the reason behind the word bonsai
there must be little pine needles
stuck in my brain to not let me concentrate
on the reason behind the word bonsai
I’m writing in public again
at the corner so people can’t see line breaks
so they think I’m essayist
at the corner so people can’t see line breaks
so they think I’m essayist
maybe I’m ashamed
maybe I don’t want them reading this
that was not part of Mi Vida Gringa
maybe I don’t want them reading this
that was not part of Mi Vida Gringa
Mi Vida Gringa not the movie I paid to see then
on that ceiling
I’m still watching it
on that ceiling
I’m still watching it
haven’t exited in protest
haven’t been kicked out
for not having a valid ticket
haven’t been kicked out
for not having a valid ticket
I sneaked in
bought the popcorn drank the Coke
bonsai the word I whisper
bought the popcorn drank the Coke
bonsai the word I whisper
I was supposed to be lawyer
businessman soccer player
Mom and Dad said
businessman soccer player
Mom and Dad said
someone of value
someone in this world must’ve said
bonsais don’t have as many needles
someone in this world must’ve said
bonsais don’t have as many needles
as the real pine they’re cut from
though in their potential beauty
they contain the ideal number of needles
though in their potential beauty
they contain the ideal number of needles
if no one has said that
this is not the movie
this is not the movie
i.
javier can you think of that date
without thirst hunger sweat shit
without almost pissing yourself
in La Migra’s backseat
and in front of you people running
fast as we could
javier can you think of that date
without thirst hunger sweat shit
without almost pissing yourself
in La Migra’s backseat
and in front of you people running
fast as we could
now I walk toward dawn
only when I’m fucked up
only when I’m fucked up
and if I’m blacked out
I want to shut the fuck up
those brown strangers
that didn’t listen and ran
from Migra guns
into the brush to never
be seen and heard of again
I want to shut the fuck up
those brown strangers
that didn’t listen and ran
from Migra guns
into the brush to never
be seen and heard of again
who I search for
in John Doe directories
not by name
but by days around June 10
in John Doe directories
not by name
but by days around June 10
but now in San Francisco
I’m half-drunk
stuffing shirts pants socks
into my carry-on
as if I had a flight today
I’m half-drunk
stuffing shirts pants socks
into my carry-on
as if I had a flight today
I’ve carried this since that day
I’m talking about the flor de izote in our fence
the one Abuelita plucked
mixed with eggs that dawn she was crying
the one Abuelita plucked
mixed with eggs that dawn she was crying
I didn’t know why
she’s still crying she’s filled her shadow
with so much water it’s sunk her home
with so much water it’s sunk her home
come out come out the house Abuelita
please
please
I’m soft I’m soft he says
my grandpa
who to this day goes out with his bad knee
my grandpa
who to this day goes out with his bad knee
to the fields and scrapes the grass
hunching down
raking to blast the leaves on fire
hunching down
raking to blast the leaves on fire
what do I do
I sit here place my fingers on black keys
type it’s Monday it’s Tuesday it’s Friday
type first day inside a plane I sat by the window
type it’s Monday it’s Tuesday it’s Friday
type first day inside a plane I sat by the window
everyone’s working
Mom Dad Tía Lupe Tía Mali
working under different names
working under different names
I sit here writing my name
the TV is on
coffee is on
coffee is on
the stereo the couch is soft
my throat is dry
and sick
my throat is dry
and sick
though we haven’t seen the light
of day
in years
of day
in years