A Central American Love Story by Kairis Aridai Rivera
Updated: Sep 1, 2021
No, not Mexican.
And no it cannot be broadcasted on ABC, NBC, Or any type of C
that stands for conservative
Because being central and taking the center is inherently radical
We little countries show love through fruit
How we save the green mangos for each other
A premature
or some may say naive
way of saying te quiero and I’m patient
Or when our love is bruised and mushed
We place them in hot oil
And watch each other rewind to the table.
Central American love is stubborn
Like when you dip your tongue in crema
A statement on how they can never take our taste buds for each other.
Central American love is all about fruit
Because Chiquita banana was the most dangerous fruit of all.
How it drove our generations away
Drove my father to pick oranges in Belize
And drove me to pray my feelings for you away.
But we pick each other
Somehow we are the ripe and forbidden.
Central American type of love
Brought me here
To read this poem
While you peel mango skins with your teeth.
Our type of love
has you sharing fruit
Spitting the seeds
Burning our cheeks
Praying that despite the gunpowder
Something continues to grow.

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