lo nuestro
it was the truest thing to say a sisterhood
born of struggling and dreaming and training
it was the truest thing to say this becoming
one body one heart one mind one spirit
running and whirling and wheeling about
it was the truest thing to say that it was a gift
from the earth a gift that lived on more
than one land a gift that crossed and recrossed
and uncrossed and unmade borders
it was the truest thing to say that we had
been made riding sisters that we were growing
up together like a family that kept branching
and branching that our children were being
raised together mothered by aunts and horses
it was the truest thing to say that there
are things in life that can’t be renounced
because renouncing them is to surrender
who we are and surrendering has never
been an option this is life this is life
this is our truest life
Notes:
This poem is part of the portfolio “Escaramuza, the Poetics of Home.” You can read the rest of the portfolio in the April 2025 issue.
Source: Poetry (April 2025)