Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

    Promise You Fields of Yellow Daffodils

    image+of+a+field+of+daffodils
    Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

    My heart is filled with a constellation

    dancing and soaring through the dark

    but stars burn brightest at their death

    and from flaming blasts blossom new scars

    that I cannot, will not ever regret 

    Spanish roses braided in dark hair

    a crimson crest and waterfall

    placed by fingers warm and skilled

    as Mama hums my heart, be still

    mi corazon, mi madre, la luna

    Buttercups blushed across the lawn

    that Spring before so much went wrong

    slender fingers intertwined, lifelong sisters

    until our star turned supernova

    stone crumbled to ash in white-knuckled grasp

    Lavender lilies in trembling hands

    and silver tie to match sparkling dress

    for our night of dance in feigned Paris

    too young and abashed to last long

    mi corazon, mi dulce, el primero

    Sweet peas spritzed across my wrist

    a gift for mi bellita, no longer la niña

    but a woman growing still

    Abuelo did not see the wildflowers

    already in my veins

    Our many kisses watched by white asters

    from clear vases on linoleum counters

    that couldn’t taste the chamomile and honey

    on our tongues as fingers tangled in soft hair

    mi corazon, mi amor, el sol

    I feel their hands still stroke my head

    at night before I rest in bed

    but blankets can’t replace their arms

    and blue blooms cannot heal our scars

    small periwinkle peonies on white cotton

    When I survey my many stars 

    half have fallen or gone dark

    Mi madre glimmers not too far

    Mi hermana fled to brighter skies

    Mi primero flew to another’s galaxy

    Mi abuelo has begun to dim

    Mi amor faded from the night

    but I gather those fragments of my heart

    blackened yet smooth from the inferno 

    and plant them in fields of yellow daffodils

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