The Puerto Rican Literature Project

cringe and shame // get together with the promise // here we are // living locked in our own house

// here we are // locked up // in houses from deep river // fake laughter from our leaders // mouths

foaming as they respond to the crisis // that lives in crisis // that grew in crisis // that was born on

the mouths of the rich // and will be saved by the hands of the rich // so says the colony // living

locked up in houses of deep river // clouded by martyrdom // fishes torn into parties // parties

without fish // this water is dark—forget about breakfast // holes on the roof // rain oppressing

the native // deep // go deeper // swimming in holes //

you don’t walk in the colony // living locked up in houses of deep river // swimming in holes //

clouded with political martyrdom // every day shows us that death oppresses the native // womb

crushed with a pilón // so the people don’t notice // a mother without protection from its abuser //

this land drowns // their face dirtied // without wood // without cement // without toldo—only

woodworms // holes // rain // deep river //

here goes the survey // (y la respuesta de los mil chavitos) // we are in the colony of the 21st

century // do you want to drown or // do you want to die swimming? // do you stay and suffer or

// do you stay to die? // do you go to bed thirsty or // drink salt water? // la Junta gets together //

with woodworms // which is the police // to see what you’ll answer // demonstrate care! //

detonation! // determination! // desire! // demolish the competition! // destined education to //

throw me to the deep river? // leave me adrift? // push another promise up my ass? //

celestial bodies in houses from deep river // death in the morning // jangueo for lunch // there are

no fishes so there’s no dinner // drink contaminated water // and wait adrift for the cliff’s edge //

sun beach and sand // the holy trinity // our plague by selling it // our life by detaching it // sun

blood and silence // we already know // where this is going // get out of the house you’re

drowning // not leaving? then stay mute // not moving and protesting? // then go get locked up //

house adrift // on cliff’s edge //

now it comes // praise of money // soft friendship between luck and hard work // myth of the

dead // lover of the empires // the colony exalts // those who embrace without asking for anything

to change // I’m not a tenant // of luck or hard work // they define me with houses // without fixed

roofs // with overflowing rivers // without land to cultivate // with gringo drift // love in the

colony // lives on the streets // without a roof // with us all // but also // with scars // that love

transforms this house // into a boat // boat into an airplane // airplane into abyss // in which we

build // an avenue in the drift on cliff’s edge // a direct connection // to the tired heart in anguish

// balm of dirty water // breathing the Caribbean air // seasoned with Saharan dust // in the deep

river // of our skin