They look at me as if my caramel color
leaks all over their white pavement,
tainting the ground underneath the soles of their feet.
As abuelita and I speak on the phone about her new rojo bandana,
they listen to me as if my Spanish words
are bulleting out of my mouth and tearing through
the oxygen around them.
They touch me as if they are sinking their hands into wet mud,
letting some sort of germ creep
under their fingernails and infect.
I am a speck of dust in their white Christmas.
I see one more person of color in the room
and instantly feel more worthy.
My tongue and hips resurrect every time “Preciosa” pops up on my playlist.
Pase lo que pase, yo seré puertoriqueño.
Yo seré puertoriqueño.
Hannah Cardona is a senior majoring in public relations and minoring in English from Jersey City, New Jersey. Poetry has always served as a way for her to keep her imagination and creativity active, saying, “I will always remain grateful for this form of expression.” She also is proud of her Puerto Rican heritage.