Taíno Cacique Anacaona

My Golden Flower Queen, 

You sacrificed your life for the well-being of your people. 

You chose peace over violence, your plead to 

a treaty rather than witness another bloody war. 

Anacaona was born in Haiti and married Cacique Caonabo in Santo Domingo. 

I wonder if you wrote songs together, if you also moved your waist at the 

speed of which we spoke, I wonder if you spoke your language 

as fast as we speak Spanish, allthewordstogether, noonecankeepup

we twist tongues with our quick rhythm as the güirra plays.

You were a poet like me, I wonder what tales you made 

and songs you sang. The longing to return to my motherland,

the soil you once walked and owned, Taíno blood that you 

protected with love rather than greed.

I believe you are in me, as I roll my r’s and point 

to objects with my lips like my grandmother. I learned the 

songs about you and your life, which I vow to write 

on the sands of every beach. Every grain will know 

your name, and the ocean will carry you. 

I will remember you when my Spanish tongue 

reads the songs of a language unknown to me. 

I will make peace with all that is my history.