This election season left me drained and disappointed. It’s a familiar feeling for many of us, though I know I’m spared from the worst by a few layers of privilege. Others are not so lucky, and it’s them I worry for.
In times like these, I turn to my writing and creative practice as a way to search for movement toward something that feels like light. Below is a short, raw poem written in response to the election results—a draft, like much of my upcoming book. In this collection, I’m leaning on bilingual writing to capture the way my mind processes in two languages. This piece may grow and evolve, but I’m sharing it here in its initial form. If it speaks to you, I welcome your thoughts or suggestions.
Los pinches políticos
Is patriarchy an epidemic?
Yes. It's infection began the day men declared god was father, money was power, and woman was property
Not mother, not collective, not protective
Their favorite words?
Command, control, assembly line
Their strongest disciples?
Incels, sheep, Pick-Mes, assholes
Is going back to what was great really for all of us? Absolutely not...
"Liberty and Justice For All" was never intended to be inclusive
"The ones we pick" was written in the history of our country with the invisible ink of white supremacy
No one said that quiet part out loud so boldly... until now
-DM