Poem: “Marked”

Never write with pencil,

m’ija.

It is for those

who would

erase.

Make your mark proud

                 and open,

Brave,

                  beauty folded into

  its imperfection,

Like a piece of turquoise

               marked.

Never write

with pencil,

m’ija.

Write with ink

                  or mud,

or berries grown in

gardens never owned,

 or, sometimes,

        if necessary,

               blood.

“Marked” by Carmen Tafolla from Sonnets and Salsa. Copyright © 2001 by Carmen Tafolla. Reprinted by permission of Wings Press (wingspress.com).