Mireya Perez

The Year the Government Changed

by

by  Mireya Perez

Conservatives hunted Liberals
don Pablo hides to safe passage
on a steamer to Havana
………………………………la casa en Sincelejo
………………………………oak-guarded
troops trample           …….  cobblestoned streets
………………………………dona Eloida reposes
………………………………newborn sleep
solos                     ………….niños, muchachas
………………………………eleven-year old María
solos
hoof hoofs en la plaza
………………………………“Rapidó, rapidó, por aqui”
………………………………María directs the retreat
………………………………through mango grove
………………………………papayas and chickens
………………………………past the tamarind tree
………………………………flings Spanish bedspread
………………………………to cushion hoist
………………………………of mama, niños
………………………………al patio de don Eusebio
While in front a brave oak groans
smashed refuge

Mireya Perez-Bustillo, born in Colombia and raised in New York, writes poetry and fiction in Spanish and English. In her work she searches for that “other voice” breaking through entrapment and oppression, the fragile markers to unearth more hidden voices. Her work appears in Revista del Hada, Caribbean Review, Americas Review, Diosas en Bronce: Anthology of Colombian Women Writers, Vibe Viva, IRP Voices, among others. Her novel, Back to El Dorado, is forthcoming.

Ancahuita *

by

by Mireya Perez

……………………..In 1960 “the butterflies,” the political
……………………..activists Mirabal sisters from the
……………………..Dominican Republic, were assassinated by
……………………..the order of Trujillo, “el jefe”.
……………………..Only Dedé survived.

Huita, huita niña
bark to plump blood
trumpet blooms borageous
to still pain of living
butterfly, Dedé
Ancahuita guards butterflies
gone Mate, Minerva, Patria
the broken bodies, the black car,
el jefe’s ire
las mariposas now one
Dedé to tell in Ancahuita refuge
Huita, huita, huita

*A common tree in the Dominican Republic, often used to mark a location

Mireya Perez-Bustillo, born in Colombia and raised in New York, writes poetry and fiction in Spanish and English. In her work she searches for that “other voice” breaking through entrapment and oppression, the fragile markers to unearth more hidden voices. Her work appears in Revista del Hada, Caribbean Review, Americas Review, Diosas en Bronce: Anthology of Colombian Women Writers, Vibe Viva, IRP Voices, among others. Her novel, Back to El Dorado, is forthcoming.

Morrocotas

by

by Mireya Perez

to María Sierra Tamara

María, listen very carefully. See this belt. Here is the patrimony of the family. Feel it, see how heavy it is

It’s filled with morrocotas, solid gold coins. There is more than enough here to take care of la familia for at least five years. Here, María,  put  it on. Keep it safe, and don’t let anyone  else know what’s in it for now. When mama recovers from the childbirth, tell her, she’s a very smart woman, she’ll know what to do.

María, I rely on you. I will send word as soon as I can. I’ve arranged for the cattle to be transported with me. As soon as I’m settled in, I’ll be able to send some funds. María, let me give you la benedición.

María lowered her head to receive her father’s blessing, the weighty leather belt tight around her waist. When she looked up, Papa, silent like a cat, was gone.

 

Mireya Perez-Bustillo, born in Colombia and raised in New York, writes poetry and fiction in Spanish and English. In her work she searches for that “other voice” breaking through entrapment and oppression, the fragile markers to unearth more hidden voices. Her work appears in Revista del Had, Caribbean Review, Americas Review, Diosas en Bronce: Anthology of Colombian Women Writers, Vibe Viva< IRP Voices, among others. Her novel, Back to El Dorado, is forthcoming.

The Year the Government Changed

by

by Mireya Perez

Conservatives hunted Liberals
don Pablo hides to safe passage
on a steamer to Havana
……………………………….la casa en Sincelejo
……………………………….oak-guarded
troops trample……………..cobblestoned streets
………………………………dona Eloida reposes
………………………………newborn sleep
………….solos …………….niños, muchachas
………………………………eleven-year old María
………….solos
………….hoof hoofs en la plaza
………………………………“Rapidó, rapidó, por aqui”
………………………………María directs the retreat
………………………………through mango grove
………………………………papayas and chickens
………………………………past the tamarind tree
………………………………flings Spanish bedspread
………………………………to cushion hoist
………………………………of mama, niños
………………………………al patio de don Eusebio
While in front a brave oak groans
smashed refuge

 

 

Mireya Perez-Bustillo, born in Colombia and raised in New York, writes poetry and fiction in Spanish and English. In her work she searches for that “other voice” breaking through entrapment and oppression, the fragile markers to unearth more hidden voices. Her work appears in Revista del Hada, Caribbean Review, Americas Review, Diosas en Bronce: Anthology of Colombian Women Writers, Vibe Viva, IRP Voices, among others. Her novel, Back to El Dorado, is forthcoming.

 

 

Ancahuita *

by

by Mireya Perez

…………In 1960 “the butterflies,” the political
…………activists Mirabal sisters from the
…………Dominican Republic, were assassinated by
…………the order of Trujillo, “el jefe”.
…………Only Dedé survived.

Huita, huita niña
bark to plump blood
trumpet blooms borageous
to still pain of living
butterfly, Dedé
Ancahuita guards butterflies
gone Mate, Minerva, Patria
the broken bodies, the black car,
el jefe’s ire
las mariposas now one
Dedé to tell in Ancahuita refuge
Huita, huita, huita

* A common tree in the Dominican Republic, often used to mark a location

 

 

Mireya Perez-Bustillo, born in Colombia and raised in New York, writes poetry and fiction in Spanish and English. In her work she searches for that “other voice” breaking through entrapment and oppression, the fragile markers to unearth more hidden voices. Her work appears in Revista del Hada, Caribbean Review, Americas Review, Diosas en Bronce: Anthology of Colombian Women Writers, Vibe Viva, IRP Voices, among others. Her novel, Back to El Dorado, is forthcoming.