Me llaman la grifa~ niña linda, pelo malo~ because it wouldn’t obey untamable beast told to relax as the lie (lye) concoction burned the kink out of my hair erasing temporarily the part of me that I hated the most. Genetically made up to be wild not to be tamed or managed or straightened or subdued or laid flatly with no body or bounce No…that … Continue reading La Grifa~
Mommy you will never call me for that title belongs to someone else, yet you will Always be my first child…for I have been there to see you grow like the flowers of a Royal water lily and its many transformations, petals white as jades full of virginal Innocence releasing aromatic scents of independence that will attract many trying to Strip you of your beauty … Continue reading Marissa
Syncopated rhythms over conga beats, I saunter in the footprints of men and women of generations passed. Dissecting myself a cadaver, open and free. From the bomba y la plena, from the sugar cane factories to the bench of the Supreme Court, we… have come a long way. Having studied many times The marble which was chiseled out for me— By the calloused hands of … Continue reading Poem:: Not My Mother’s Daughter
Deep wrinkled, hollowed eyed, burned by the sun flashes of red, crisscross onyx covered retinas. No longer able to contain emotions, hyperventilating, sweating, shaking, stomach flipping because I’ve never really liked roller coasters. Reaching elevating highs, only to be overtaken by catapulting lows, who in their right mind enjoys this? Strapped in tight, blasting tunnels lit with projections of stars, galaxies, asteroids, and other cosmological … Continue reading Emotional Rollercoaster
The month of June is always full of many events celebrating the Puerto Rican Culture. There are various street festivals along with the National Puerto Rican Day celebrated this month. In honor of these celebrations and of my culture I am providing you all with a brief history on our beautiful bandera. Back in October 2010 I had the pleasure of attending an exhibit at El … Continue reading Que Bonita Bandera: The History of the Puerto Rican Flag
In January of this year in the home of a friend (who I originally met on Facebook, yes Facebook) I attended a spiritual retreat that absolutely changed the direction of my life. I was at a point in my life where I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with myelf. I was feeling unhappy, unsure, doubtful, & felt empty. Despite all of my accomplishments like my great career, having … Continue reading Embrace Your Inner Goddess
I’m a hungry beast devouring ignorance with each stroke of my pen. Today’s poem is in the form of a haiku. Haiku is a Japanese style of poetry that combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. The first line usually contains five syllables, the second line seven syllables, and the third line contains five syllables (5,7,5). A Haiku must “paint” a mental image … Continue reading (5/30) Food for My Soul
The wind whispers regrets as I bathe in the fragrance of your memory Nurturer, Supporter, Independent Woman Where have you gone? And almost as if an apparition you appear smelling of Benson & Hedges 100’s I can hear you, feel your presence as I stare into your charcoal eyes searching for the answer to the question that I never got to ask. Continue reading (3/30) Call to the Spirit
Last night I had the oportunity to spend the evening with a beautiful woman. Not only is she physically beautiful but she is spiritually beautiful. For me she is the embodiment of love and I told her so. From the moment that I met her I felt a connection to her. A pure and genuine connection that can only be felt and not described. But if I … Continue reading The Beauty of Sisterhood
Sisters. They’re bratty, clingy, nosey, and sometimes just plain old evil. They look up to you, imitate you, tease you, support you, help you, and console you when your first love dumps you. They’re catty, selfish, and spiteful but for all the things they are the most important of them is that no matter how bad things seem they will always love you. The bond … Continue reading A letter to my sister…
nancy arroyo ruffin 