Away from his family, not knowing
his mother’s recipes for empanadas or arepas,
and the markets only catering to Mexicans,
he would buy plump red and green mangos,
not as sweet as the long chancletas
he would find alongside the road as a child
but still juicy,
cut long, fat slices,
let me try the sweet golden meat,
its juice running from the corners of my mouth.
Poem: MARION GÓMEZ is a poet and teaching artist based in Minneapolis. She has received grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Jerome Foundation. She is a member of the Latinx spoken word collective Palabristas and works at the Loft Literary Center.
Art: JILL LYNNE NESS is a writer and artist living Minnesota. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. As a visual artist, she is self-taught and known for her intense watercolor. Jill leads a writing group at Bridgeview, a community support center in Fridley, Minnesota, for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, where she is also a member.
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