Elizabeth Acevedo

A truth
you did not want
to know
can rot & grow mold
in the pit
of your stomach,
can sour
every taste
you’ve ever had,
can cast a stench
so bad you forget
you’ve ever known
a sweet thing.

I am from a playground place.
Our oceans that we need for fish
are cleared so extranjeros can kite surf.
Our land, lush & green, is bought
& sold to foreign powers so they can build
luxury hotels for others to rest their heads.
The bananas & yucca & sugarcane
farmed & harvested, exported,
while kids thank God for every little scrap

The last time I saw my parents kiss
I was pretty small.
But it’s still hard to hear
that your own mother wasn’t happy.
Papi was always smiling, always full
of words & joy.
I wish I knew the rift
that grew this sea between them.
I used to think it was me