The Sub-Urban Pioneer

Oh give me a home

with a big landscaped lawn

four cars, a boat and a kitty.

For my heart yearns to be

any place that is free

of the urban decay of this city.

I’ll do my shopping at Gucci’s and Sak’s,

spend all of my days at the malls.

Charge my Armani’s and Klein’s—

I’ll look so divine

nibbling caviar at charity balls.

I’ll have two children—

Carson and Dawn—

not lil’ Counts, Sinbads or Foxies.

They won’t sell no dope.

They’ll know how to cope

and grow up to be good little Nazis.

I’ll take a lover

who’ll look like Val Kilmer

and he’ll give me all I desire.

We won’t bicker or fight.

We’ll make love every night

and join swing clubs

to light up his fire.

We’ll own a Bugatti, a Fiat, a Porche,

driving with class all the way.

We’ll buy Dawn a Viper

and Carson a Vette

and to hell with the damned R.T.A.!

I’ll spend my hours playing

tennis and bridge,

croquette and maybe some cricket.

I’ll join posh country clubs

while my maids clean and scrub

and I’ll vote the Republican ticket.

Gourmet food, vintage wine,

oh, life will be fine.

The Reagans will move in next door.

There’ll be no welfare cases,

they’ll say we are racists

but we won’t live in fear

for our lives anymore.

Oh please give me a home

with a huge landscaped lawn,

a yacht and a pedigreed kitty.

For my heart yearns to be

anywhere that is free

from the rot and the dirt

of this city.

Notes:

“The Sub-Urban Pioneer” was first published in It’s Not About Dreams (Erato/Poetry, 2014). It is reprinted with permission of Kayla González Huertas.

This poem is part of the portfolio “Salima Rivera: A Chicago Rican Poet.” You can read the rest of the portfolio in the March 2024 issue.

Source: Poetry (March 2024)