It Smells of New York

The suitcase arrived yesterday
over-stuffed and brimming with Hershey Kisses and colored pencils
Happiness arrived yesterday wearing a flannel sweatshirt
I Love NY
Yesterday, love returned

Yesterday also brought with it the aunt
or grandmother, the brother,
the brother -in -law, the friend,
the neighbor,
Juanita,
and a loneliness burdened with:
a new backpack,
I Love NY
Juan's sneakers
and those white bras "Made in the Dominican Republic"
I Love NY
Tania's perfume
I Love NY
and the olive oil that must bear the Figaro brand name
I Love NY

Yesterday she squeezed her last dime so she could arrive here with an over- stuffed suitcase
Yesterday she brought with her the seeds which are grown in the Canal de la Mona
Yesterday she refrained from declaring that dreams are bought on lay-away
Yesterday, flush with happiness, she held her tongue--
refrained from declaring that dreams are paid for with hard cash and overtime
because
just the day before
she
too
had returned deceived



written by Sussy Santana
translated by Steven Tegu