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Me, American
The scenes are as fresh in my mind as if they had happened today. The second-grade nun told my parents to speak to me only in English. This is America, and in America, we only speak English. Or Mrs. Travieso… Continue reading
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America, My Country Too
I was born in the United States of America and grew up here. The South Bronx, to be exact. From an early age, I was taught that this nation was the greatest in the world. No doubts about it.In Catholic… Continue reading
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Closed Eyes
I see nothing because I don’t want to see. It’s easier this way then I don’t need to think to ask questions to receive answers I don’t want to hear. I admit pain is sometimes too great too blinding what… Continue reading
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Untitled Random Poems #3
The poetry of lifewords on a pagestreaming out of my mind singing like a sageSounds abound dancing sALSA in my soulmy fEET have foundmERENGUE has no fears.the poetry of mAMBO in my heart crying from deep inside Our music will… Continue reading
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Old(er): An Epic Journey
Part Two “Eat Life like you’re starving. You may feel full at the end of the day, but damn, it tasted good.” antonio pedro ruiz I remember the moment I touched down at LAX Los Angeles Airport like it was… Continue reading
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America is Broken
Video evidence is everywhere. Facebook. X. Especially X. Instagram. TikTok. I’ve even seen evidence on Truth Social, a Trumpian fountain of irreconcilable conflict between reality and fantasy. You know things are horrible when the liars are lying about lying.The videos… Continue reading
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Instructions For Making and Using an Ax Handle
An Ax Handle, also called a haft, has five parts: the Eye, the Shoulder, the Belly, the Throat, and the Knob. ALL we wanted was to be served lunchat the whites-only lunch counterInside a F.W. Woolworthfive-and-dime store In Jacksonville, Florida,… Continue reading
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A Yankee Baseball Game
My annual tribute to my father, Antonio “Tony” Ruiz. My father never took me to a Yankees game when I was a kid. That was the secret burden of resentment I carried for a long time. At some point before… Continue reading
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I Ain’t No Superman
Man, I can’t catch a break. Hard living. First, my knee replacements. Both knees. Then, my recent brush with life-changing trauma, a stroke. It reminded me of my last body-slamming event: a blocked heart and the pacemaker implanted in my… Continue reading
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The Cult of Hate
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.“—Sinclair Lewis It is a faint memory, but it’s there. At some point in my childhood, I was taught to beware of Russian people, because… Continue reading
