Poetic Hill

Patricia Coral

by Sandra Beasley

Patricia Coral was born and raised in Puerto Rico and currently lives in Northwest DC. She is the Director of Events at Politics and Prose Bookstore and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from American University, where she served as the Editor-in Chief of FOLIO. Patricia writes creative non ction and poetry, but frequently her words nd their home in-between. She is a recipient of the Myra Sklarew Award for Outstanding Thesis and her work has been featured in Fireside Fiction, Grace and Gravity, Literal Magazine, and Houston Public Media, among others. Find more at www.patriciacoral.com.

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Tahdig and Pegao

Tahdig

Basmati, sa ron, olive oil, yogurt. Raise the re on the

Basmati, sa ron, olive oil, yogurt. Raise the re on the stove, until a golden crust is born. Medium or short grain white rice, corn oil, salt inside a caldero, in Puerto Rico tahdig is pegao. A Salvadorian friend says pegao, tahdigh, is rice burnt by bad cooks. For Iranians and Puerto Ricans, a ritual, a feast. Tahdig with barberries. Pegao with beans. We nd untranslated ground in the bottom of a pan.

Sandra Beasley is the curator of “Poetic Hill,” a resident of Southwest, and the author of four poetry collections. If you live in D.C. and you’re interested in being featured, you can reach her at sandrabeasley@earthlink.net for questions and submissions (1-5 poems). ◆