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AQUÍ HAY TODO, MIJA
by Alexis Aceves Garcia

             National City, 2019
 
i open the screen door slowly
n wait for Abuela n her red walker
to begin the procession
from the back door out to the street
 
ay, mis rodillas
 
vines wrap around the wooden deck n reach to steady
whatever cartilage is left in her knees
down the ramp she stops near the lemon trees
there are more than i remember
glistening in the sun, a kingdom
she softened w/ her voice
 
tan bello mi limón
 
n the lemons blush off the evergreen
branch into her bowl
the granadas kneel from trees
to crown her Abuela, reina of E. 8th St.
she smiles her three perfect teeth
toward the palm tree
 
mira, parese que está abrazando todos
los árboles
 
despacito caminamos past the Jeep blooming rust
she points to the tomate y melón, mint, the birds
of paradise that didn’t survive
the pink roses that did
 
cuando paso los rosales les doy un beso
tan preciosas mis rosas
 
she palms the banana tree
the neighbor planted
swinging heavy over the wire fence
 
lo que está de este lado es mío
 
whatever is on our side
we keep
 
whatever is on our side
we eat

"AQUÍ HAY TODO, MIJA" by Alexis Aceves Garcia. Used by permission of the poet.