Home(land) Ephemera ~by Amanda Ellis
red and blue striped trapos
blue and white speckled ollas
small latas of La Lechera and
threads of stringy queso Oaxaca
raw brown pinwheels of chicharrones de harina
near plantitas sprouting from repurposed Leche Nido cans
garrafones de agua swaying in their swings
terrazas presumiendo wet calzones drying sin vergüenza
blue tins of Nivea cream
red-capped bottles of Aceite 1-2-3
small yellow boxes of Cerillos Clásicos
always near the hot gas foil lined stove
concrete lavaderos with hard raised ridges
that under fragrant lingers of Vel Rosita
will bloody your knuckles
and leave your fingers stinging as you reach into
that floppy bag of Foca powdered detergent
the one with face of the seal pup who stares back
with ojitos tiernos as your bruised fingers bleed
Copyright 2020. Amanda Ellis. All rights reserved.
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