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)