Poetry
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I Am All of Them
diaspora(n.) 1825 in reference to Moravian protestants; 1869 in reference to the dispersion of the Jews; from Greek diaspora “dispersion,” from diaspeirein “to scatter about, disperse,” from dia “about, across” (see dia-) + speirein “to scatter” (see sparse). – etymoline.com… Continue reading
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The Freedom in My Mind
“It is the policy of the United States to: (a) secure the right of the American people to engage in constitutionally protected speech…” — Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship. White House Executive Order. Donald J. Trump. January 20,… Continue reading
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A Supreme Love
September 3, 2025, Sumire Gant and Antonio Ruiz celebrate thirty-eight years of commitment and their marriage in Kaua’i, Hawaii. September also marks forty-two years since they first met in a hotel lobby in Baltimore, Maryland. September 3, 1987-September 3, 2025.… Continue reading
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The Flag
One in a series of narratives on being American The red, white, and blue flag waved on high as it celebrated freedom and loyalty, even as the founding enslavers who promised everyone freedom, But it was really meant only for… Continue reading
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Something Happened
A long read inspired by Jill Talbot‘s “Emergent.” Something happened to me at the Catholic seminary—seventy miles northwest of the Bronx in Middletown, New York. I changed forever. Life before the seminary was not idyllic, but it was simple. 1948-1962.… Continue reading
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daydreaming
daydreamingI remember a faint foggy memory—south bronxrican and dominican rootsthe patterson projectsjohn adams housesa child into a teenagerdates days places people their names have faded awaylike the clouds i would stare at through my fifth-floor windowi was that kind of… Continue reading
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The True Criminals
I want to feel safe from them. The criminals Who steal from us Who take our children from us Who rape us Who shoot us Who murder us.Them. I want to feel safe from them. The criminals That take bribes… Continue reading
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gaza
A plea for the shouting to end and the peace to begin. some things are not different this timethe woman who shouts i am not your enemythe man who shouts you are my enemythe woman who shouts kill all zioniststhe… Continue reading
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drinking
Always the same stella with a cold glass, double patrón silver, really well chilled, salted rim,at the same bars but with different people.And a lot of times, the same people are drinking, wishing they had a cigarette between their fingersor… Continue reading
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American History
They told me that I would want to be like ThemAn American Like Them. (I was born here)They told me to learn EnglishThat would make me an AmericanLike Them (American was speaking English like Them)They told me to salute/worship/put my… Continue reading
