SOMOS Fall 2010

mil mtnmimm

representing latinos and latino culture t h r o u g h p r o s e , poetry, nonfiction, a n d v i s u a l a r t "Mi

TABLE OF CONTENTS PROSE & POETRY

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

2

Morir sonando,Jose Rodriguez'12

5

Como te extraho corazon.Juan Carranza '12

4

Silencios,Juan Ruiz Toro'12

7

Dad, David Hernandez'11

6

Todo te lo diera, Rocio Bravo '11 GS

9

Boring. Whatever. Let's go play x-box., Kate Carlisle

8

El balcon de mi alma, Daniella Ponce '13

10 Cape Cod, Angel Mojarro'11

12 Play Me In Reverse, Nicole Parrish '12

11 BSAThunderbold, Angel Mojarro'11

14 Untitled, Emily Gonzalez '13

13 Huerfano Valley, CO, Angel Mojarro '11

18 A Minha decisao, Ana Almeida'12

16 Brown Gendo Taiko, Angel Mojarro '11

19 Sexual Tension, Ayoosh Pareek'12

20 Matthew 5:14, Emily Gonzalez'13

21 Acuestase.mi reina, Andrea McWilliams '12

23 Zebra Watermelon, Kimberly Arredondo '11

22 Las hermanas desilusion y alegria, Esther Escotto

25 Our Rain, Not Yours-A socioeconomic Endemic,

24 El cumpleanos, Crystal Vance '11

Kate Carlisle

27 El tianguis, Crystal Vance'11

26 Mary at the Portuguese Market, Michelle Jolliffe '12

28 Peer Edit, David Romero '14

29 Read My Eyes, Kate Carlisle

30 Unidos contra o deus.Geraldo Dutra '11

31 Hueco Tanks, Kimberly Arredondo '11

MORIR SONANDO by jose rodriguez'12

r-,

•

m

—•••

Ill

IT'

II I

1

I WE

I met Mario during the blizzard that paralyzed New York. A bath of snow came down on the city; the flakes covered the whole landscape. Each flake held what we called the "newcomer disease," the crisis in confidence that could break down and reshape identi­ ties. When the snow fell, we Dominicans were espe­ cially at risk-this weather was foreign and unaccom­ modating. City-dwellers lack the option of skiing, and making a snowman was beyond our age. We thought we were too "cool" for those things anyway.

Mario befriended me through a mutual friend,Maicol Moreno. Mario had just arrived; he had never seen the flakes. The day of the blizzard, Maicol and I made our usual stop at Pablo's Grocery Store, bringing Mario along. Maicol and I grabbed two Powerades, anticipat­ ing our inevitable thirst during the upcoming basket­ ball game. Mario, went for a morir sonando (a mixture of milk and orange juice), which, literally translates to: to die while dreaming." Mario went ahead of us,asking Pablo if he could buy on credit, a typical practice in the Dominican Republic.

Pablo responded warmly,"Mi hijo aqui no se vende asi."

Maicol whispered,"Did Pablo actually just call Ma­ rio son?"

Yes," I responded. The sign over the counter read,

2 somos

1

irksrt

Today we don't sell on credit, perhaps tomorrow.

"Maicol," I pointed to the sign,"it's in English. Mario did not understand it."

strength, firmness, and determination. As the time and struggle progressed, he held it with weakness, his au­ thority challenged by the ice. Finally, Mario dropped

We paid for Mario and left the store, making a

the shovel.The ice was consuming his hands with frost

path through the six inches of accumulated snow that

bite. He slumped, head down, hands in his pockets.

waited outside. While we walked, Mario drank his morir

These were all symptoms of the "newcomer disease,"

sohando. The weather was so cold that it cut our skin,

and we witnessed Mario's surrender to it.

but Mario walked in defiance of the wind, his jacket un­

We did not play the game. Maicol and I had cleared

buttoned, as if he were superior to the cold. Our shov­

our side, but Mario had given up, infected by the dis­

eling job was going to be a challenge, so we decided to

ease that was brought by the snow. It challenged his

pass through a friend's house to borrow three shovels.

drive, corrupted his will, and contained his strength.

The basketball court was submerged in soft white

We all walked home differently after our experiences

snow. It seemed that clearing it would be a simple

on the basketball court that day. Maicol stepped with

task. We divided the court into three sections. Maicol

confidence on the ground; I walked with disappoint­

and I gave Mario the easiest section. As Mario began

ment, unhappy with the day's events. But Mario saun­

to shovel, he cleared the top layer without much trou­

tered, thug-like, down the street. It was the effect of

ble. Maicol and I had troublesome sections filled with

the disease: he had to compensate for his earlier fail­

rough ice and we observed in envy how painless Ma­

ure, frustration, and embarrassment.

rio's task was.

Dominicans move to our neighborhood with con­

Mario drank his morir sohando, the precious liquid

fidence, character, and values; but the disease can

that reminded him of home and gave him strength. As

change them. Some survive, others are immune, but

Mario drank the last drop, his section of the court re­

some surrender to it entirely. It erases their will, their

vealed a layer of hard ice. Mario dug at it for an hour.

drive. It fills them with embarrassment and frustration.

With each minute came a change of expression, a

It turns them into a stereotype of machismo. That day,

change of posture, and a change in the way he held

the disease had become visible in Mario the moment

the shovel. At first, Mario had held the shovel with

that he had zipped up his coat.

fall 2010 3

SILENCIOS by juan ruiz toro '12

•

SI HHOBB

Mi amoryyo hemos sido enLoquecidos por La distancia del tiempo y del espacio, por La soledad humana, por la ausencia de nuestro amor.

Hemos sido enLoquecidos por la Lluvia que se supone nos ha Lavado Los pecados que nos dejaron casi muertos acurrullados contra una pared, ensordecidos por el silencio.

COMO TE EXTRANO CORAZON juan carranza'12 charcoal

fall 2010 5

TODO TE LO DIERA by rocio bravo '10

„ Ei ) ,n } \

Si pudiera, borrarfa esas lagrimasyte regalan'a una sonrisa aliviarfa tus penas e hiciera realidad tus suenos eliminarfa ese dolor y te darfa solo felicidad si yo pudiera.

Si pudiera,te evitarfa sentir tristezas secarfa la lluvia y alumbraria tus dfas de luz borrarfa las nubes y te acercarfa las estrellas si yo pudiera.

Si pudiera, quitarfa de tus pensamientos la desilusion cambiarfa la duda en tu mente porfortaleza y reemplazarfa esas cicatrices con medallas de honor si yo pudiera.

Si por mi fuera nunca supieras lo que es la soledad nunca sabrfas lo que es llorar ni entenderfas lo que es fracasar.

Si por mf fuera,tu camino nunca se desviarfa tu corazon nunca se quebrarfa y tu fe jamas se desvanecerfa.

DAD david hernandez'll watercolor

fall 2010 7

EL BALCON DE MI ALMA

by daniella ponce'13

Fue la caida del muro al final de la frontera, Si'.esos fueron tus besos.

Fueron las olas del mar sobre mi piel, sobre el cuerpo que te siente llegar.yquete anhela antes de despertar.

Si, esas fueron tus caricias.

Fueron las acciones que mueven montanas para llegar a la cumbre, Sin saber que la cima no es un lugar, Sino un estado; un estado Esperando interpretacion, Respirando furor, Anhelando compresion.

Si.asi me has entregado tu amor.

Fueron las risas de unos ninos jugando, Si, esas son las miradas de una pareja coqueteando.

Fueron todas las barreras derrumbadas, Si, esas son las demostraciones de la construccion de nuestro amor.

Son, la base de una obra.y el fruto de una union, Las columnas de una diosa vindicada portu amor, Y Seran la estampa en la sombra del sol, Cuando volvamos a creer y de nuevo arder de amor.

8 somos

BORING. WHATEVER. LET'S GO PLAY XBOX. kate Carlisle pen & ink sketch

fall 2010 9

CAPE COD angel mojarr^'ll digital photography

10 somos

'

DiA I nUlNUtKtSULI angel mojarro '11 digital photography

fall 2010 11

PLAY ME IN REVERSE

by nicoLe parrish '12

We skirted around wet asphalt,

Play me in reverse,

the sound of rain a symphony

so take becomes give and

pounding final cadences

we let go of the generosity of the State,

on the windshield

managed to go hungry despite

and the skipping fins of

the magnanimity.

ice-sharp rainfall emerging

Play it all backwards

from under our tires.

so kill becomes Llik/Lick

The world was silenced save for the slow crescendo of God's

up a plate full of food

magnum opus

and mis primos

Symphony in the key of the Rainy Midwest.

are finally gaining some weight.

Adrenaline put the video screen

So please, play me in reverse

outside our window on mute.

like maybe we might have been

Cue slow motion skidding.

born on the street,

We flew, and when the cosmos

equipped by old age

decided to take the remote control of our lives

and grow younger in the comfort of our homr

and turn up the volume just in time,

grow down to better days.

we could hear the explosion,

Play me in reverse

and the windshield rain

so falling becomes flying

sliced through our clothes.

and no matter the direction

It was a rainy Midwestern day in the ditch.

we'll still be in the racecar;

The news reporter would

the road ocean ahead of us

gloss over the event,

leaping into the air

mentioning a couple of undesirables,

so we could pass by safely.

but focusing mainly on the weather it was a rainy day in the Midwest that morning.

Play me in reverse and it might be true.

The ground was raising watery hell, and we two undesirables were chasing down good, upstanding citizens because that's just what young inner-city kids do something in the genetic makeup of those coloured kids' gave us a predisposition to invade the lives of the more civilised' people.

12 somos

Play me in reverse and see how my body pours forth crystal fragments like pieces of my soul in worship, creating windshield barriers; and send me up into the clouds so undesirable becomes untouchable; then play the tape again and see It was a sunny day in the Midwest that morn

|

ilJM

BlJH 1

3 HUERFANO VALLEY, CO angel mojarro '11 digital photography

ng

fall 2010 1 3

UNTITLED by emily gonzalez'13

I never liked feet.

10 midget fingers attached to two elongated palms.

I use them so much Bagging them inside my desperately seeking Febreeze pair of chucks My first pair, Owned as a symbol Of the beginning of my rebellion Exiting my yellow-walled, Hello Kitty overpopulated.Tweety-infested nursery, Standing outside my own gate, Outstretched hands, Waving goodbye.

I walked.

Hesitantly.

I arose to face a new set of gates.

Feeling a bit like one of those Telemundo novelas where the pretty rubia Who looks nothing like me turns to the camera and Gasps.

The thoughts slide through my mind.

Stuck between the thoughts That I left my home behind My tracks appear in the dust, The plume of the garbage smoke Burning a few blocks from my hood.

Nothing good comes out of here.

"Sigue andando el camino por toda su vida."

Respira.

I would like to know that I am solid.

Segura.

To me everything crosses each other's path in the universe and flows All the paths are written out to me And I have to try to figure out what it all means.

Independently.

I would like to know that I am enduring.

To know that my path in life 14 somos

Cannot be swept up like onions peels for the sazon.

Stinging my eyes at the start but soon Forgotten.

Like my Language.

When I talk to Mami on the phone.

Talking like "Si, estoy fine y you?"

Like my history Unaware of those Who stood behind metaL gates so that I could pass through these.

I would like to know that I am distinguished I say I behave no prouder that the status I establish my own self outwardly.

"My name is Emily.

I belong here."

The first to go, I walk for my mom who can't, But who uses her hands to push me along.

Memories fill my past.

Define my present.

Inspire my future.

Sonrisas shape the crease of my cheeks, the ones Papi pinches the moment I open the red minivan he bought for 50 bucks.

Emanating from the bounce of my cafe stained corkscrews.

Grazing my /ecfteskin.

Desiring, but fearful of losing my step, I make a conscious decision to walk.

Dropping azucar as i pass so I won't forget.

So that as I go I leave a path of sweetness Not dust.

My foothold here is tenon'd and secure In the ripples on the floor as I stomp, and glide to my plena,twirl to the ballad of my salsa. -"Azucar\"

fall 2010 15

BROWN GENDOTAIKO angel mojarro'll digital photography

16 somos

A MINHA DECISAO by ana almeida'12

H.

Eu nao sei o que fazer Estou ficando doida Cada dia que passa sinto-me morrendo mais Nao sei o que fazer 0 mundo esta desabando em cima da minha cabega Boom, boom Sera que vou morrer?

Sera que vou poder? Desistir nao e uma opcao Nao posso voltar atras Terei perdao de Deus?

Quern nao acredita em Deus nao precisa do seu perdao Mas quern nao acredita de verdade?

Eu gostaria de acreditar Gostaria de sonhar De querer De voar De dangar De brincar Eu gostaria de olhar para frente e continuar Porque voltar atras nao e uma opgao Ficar no meio e incertidao.

Ir para frente e a minha decisao.

18 somos

SEXUAL TENSION by ayoosh pareek'12

I told her we were too far, to be in love.

I'm sure I breathe out in the direction that would carry my scent to Providence, She says.

Walking down her patio, I can't help but give my feet a mean stare to slow down In the smells of sundried tomato wraps filled with scrambled eggs and guacamole.

You and I are like the yolk and the white.

We flow with fluidity inside the shell, But when things come to a boil, We can't help but separate.

issr mm -1

fall 2010 19

MATTHEW 5:14 emily gonzalez'13 pastel

20 somos

ACUESTASE, MI REINA by andrea mcwilliams "12

Her love is not like a rose.

In fact, her love can challenge any rose's beauty, and win.

A love so generous, It could make Madre Teresa's life seem selfish.

Her strongest desire was to walk out of her 10-hour waitressing shift, So she could be home with my sisters and me.

I know that now.

When I think back to Life in our small two bedroom apartment, I think of the nights she lay down next to me.

When it was time to go mimis, She'd attempt to forget the struggles of her Life, If only for a night.

She'd gently run her fingers through my hair and say, 'Acuestase, mi reina,"

As if she wished she could give me more.

Perhaps a king-sized bed fit for a queen, Rather than the twin-sized bed we shared But with those words, she gave me comfort.

She gave me her self-less love.

And I realized, That's all I have ever needed.

LAS HERMANAS DESILUSION Y ALEGRIA

by esther escotto Pi-cv^

•

-

4

•!

Dicen que en el cinturon deL cuerpo humano se cargan las altas y las bajas de la vida iLas altas y las bajas, que sera eso?

Bueno.empieza por los intestinos que estan dentro de tu cintura ELLos llevan las alegrias y Los sufrimientos Alii se disminuye todo o se crea otra cosa Alii sube para arriba o baja para abajo todo; todos tus sentimientos, remordimientos,sufrimientos, hasta La desilusion dNadie tiene una desilusion completa alfin de ese proceso?

No, la desilusion no es completa Te puede llevar por caminos no pensados Te puede girar a otras decisiones Te puede instalar otros pensamientos en tu mente y corazon La desilusion te da el poder, el querer, la determinacion, el li'mite final, la otra oportunidad de hacer o deshacer lo que sea La desilusion no conoce lo bueno ni lo malo.a hombre ni a mujer, nino o nina. Mas bien, no Le interesa.

Su papel no tiene barreras.

Te la describo detalladamente para que la vayas conociendo.

dY que de la alegria?

Bueno,ella si que es completa, pero ella se queda por momentos, por ratos.por epoca y aun tiene sus altas y bajas La alegria es coqueta.a veces enganadora y de vez en cuando loca tambien.

Es poderosa porque sana.y muchisimas veces, salva.

Sf.salva a uno de la depre.de las quejas.de un disgusto, Nos libera de la tristeza.y nos ayuda a olvidarnos de nuestros sufrimientos, calores insoportables yfrios desagradables Asi

es eLla> la fieL

am'ga. a^gre

senora, que no descansa y nunca, nunca se queda en su casa.

No se sabe quien Llega primero si la desilusion o La alegria dNo te das cuenta que les gusta la competencia? qinn' Al desDedirte ripple

Ze

22 somos

^ t [j S ^ z a

y La a l e 9 r i a

Weguen a tu casa.aunque les quieras serrar la puerta.no Lo h;

0 S3rva as bien para

qUe

^ u e Puedas conocer quien es quien y entiendas por que dan

^ 13

~ •«- -

»

ZEBRA WATERMELON

kimberly arredondo '11 digital photography

fall 2010 23

EL CUMPLEANOS

by crystal vance '11

...Dale dale dale, no pierdas el tiro, porque si lo pierdes, pierdes el camino...

El giierito esta en el centro. Arriba de el cuelga

permanece la esfera de baro intacta. Solo se escucha como agita lo de adentro con los golpes. Si no rompe la pinata va a romper todo lo de adentro intentando,

una pinata. Tiene un palo tan largo como es alto. Alre-

piensa la nina, una de los dos, asi siempre pasa. Pero

dedor las ninas y ninos fijan su mirada en el, ansiosos

esta vez no. Alza su voz y le dice al nino:

por estar en su lugar. La cumpleanera se pierde miran-

"Ya se acabo tu turno."

do la pinata. Le parece una estrella fugaz y le pide un

El nino no la escucha o la ignora.

deseo. Cumple siete anos y ya se siente grande.fuerte.

"jYa se acabo tu turno!"

Ve la pinata y se imagina un paraiso adentro: dulces y

El padre del nino amenaza a la madre con su mi­

juguetes para todos y tal vez hasta un pajaro. Eso es lo

rada. Ella intenta calmar a su hija pero los otros ninos

que queria en verdad, un pajaro rojo y lo imagina salir

y ninas empiezan a aplaudir y gritar tambien. "jDeja

volando de la pinata. £l tiene sus ojos tapados con un paliacate azul. En

de golpear!""jTambien nos toca a nosotros!""jSiempre destruyes todo!""jNo es todo para ti!""jYo si puedo!"

realidad no es tan chico, pero es el consentido o mas

Gritan pero no se acercan. El todavia tiene el palo

bien el griton, pensaba la nina. Empieza su ataque sin

y lo sigue usando. La nina mira hacia arriba y le pide

haber dado vueltas (no se dejo) pero nadie le dice nada.

a su abuela y abuelo que alcen la cuerda. Ellosvena

No se espera a escuchar la pinata, no como las ninas y

los ninos y ninas descontentos y desesperados y la al-

ninos que se paran pacientemente tratando de ubicar

zan. EL nino no sabe porque ya no encuentra la pina'j.

el crujir del papel en la obscuridad. Arroja golpe tras

Sigue con sus ojos tapados, buscando con golpes a

golpe confiando en su fuerza a pesar de su ceguera. La

pinata. Da vueltas y vueltas pero no la encuentra. Frus-

nina lo ve con ojos grandes y piensa en su pobre pajarito. ^Saldra vivo?

trado, se quita el paliacate. Los ojos de las otras nina:

...Ya le diste uno, ya le diste dos, ya le diste tres y tu tiempo se acabo...

habia sido vencido. No podia taparse los ojos otravei

Pero el nino no para. 'Duro, duro mijo" le dice su papa, su voz alzandose sobre las quejas de los otros.

La esperanza de tener un turno desvanece con cada palotazo.

"Mami,,;por que no para?"

"Hay que ser paciente chiquita, hay que esperar."

"Pero si es mi turno y ademas mi cumpleanos."

"Paciencia.es un invitado.hay que ser cortes." £l nunca deja a nadie mas intentar y lo sabes."

"Tal vez esta vez si..."

La pinata ya no parece una estrella pero todavia

24 somos

y ninos lo rodean.Ve la pinata colgando arriba deeL no podia fingir no escuchar o defenderse con no saber Su turno se acabo.

La nina se acerca y toma el palo de sus manes El nino resiste, pero los ojos de Los otros lo obligan a soltarlo y a que se saiga del centro. El papa Lo toma ce los hombros y salen de la casa azotando la puerta. U abueLa y el abuelo bajan la pinata y con un movimient. la nina parte la pinata en dos. Los duLces y juguetecaen brillando a su alrededor. Todos esperan hasta c.: se vacie. Lo ultimo que sale es un silbato rojo enfo^ de un pajaro. La nina lo recoge y sopla.

OUR RAIN, NOTYOURS-A SOCIOECONOMIC ENDEMIC kate Carlisle

pen & ink sketch

fall 2010 25

••

MARY AT THE PORTUGUESE MARKET michelle joLLiffe '12 digital photography

26 somos

EL TIANGUIS by crystal vance'11

-i

Era la manana. El se habi'a levantado como siempre a as cuatro para leer. Se desesperaba de dormir La enddopedia de Mexico era su libro preferido para atenuar las noches largas. La tiene frente de Sjsca su apellido: Guerra. No existe guerra en si, solo en relacion: GUERRA CIVIL, GUERRA DE CASTAS, GUERRA DE EA A MEXICO... k volvio a dormir, pensando a que se refiere su aoeiiido. Tiene dos hijos; ambos estan del otro Lado: uno en el norte y el otro en el cielo. Ningunoes papa. <;Que pasara con su nombre, Guerra? ,;Desaparecera o solo se perdera?

Se levanta a preparar el jugo de naranja. Es mas por :ostumbre que por gusto. Pero se volvio costumbre por sJSto, o eso cree, y sigue exprimiendo mitades. Llena :res vasos. Madre, hija y el viejo canijo"y se rie de sus sropias palabras.

o«

memoria. 7Y flor de calabaza?" Ah, si, se le habi'a olvidado.

Jala el carrito lleno de hierbas y verduras. "Deja eso alii papa.yo lo hago." Cuatro infartos y ya no le dejan hacer nada sin miedo. <<Para que sirven los viejos entonces? Piensa de su victoria sobre la muerte...

El diablo no estaba.

Pero sabe que la victoria no es mas que una advertencia.

{Que va estar? si no fue su tiempo.

Pero pronto lo sera, se contesta.

Siempre dice "hay que chingarle en la vida," para asegurarse que eltiempo no quede en el olvido. Nada es para siempre. El hacer es La unica manera de ser.de vivir. "Necio" Le dice su hija.

h^evos a la mexicana hechos con demasiado aceite y al Siempre se pasa desde que los doctores Le dijeron 3uese cuidara. Baja su esposa y ve el desayuno. "^Que, o aprendes?" Y empieza a calentar tortillas. *" aceip su hiJa a la mesa. Ya es mujer, nunca se ^'ra como tu padre hizo el desayuno otra - La hija no dice nada.Sabe que ella esta frustrada --.3 mismo.de lo de siempre. "Pues ya, asi lo hice y ya echo. Si quieres algo diferente, hazlo tu." y el se va a la sala. Prende la Part'do. 0-1. Eltiempo corre pero el

de COmer R /e

3aballeros°-haCe'

01

^ S£

aC3b°

^

partido damas

Y

es hora Papa.vamorios."

Camina con el carrito ya pesado con mandado.

Ve

los elotes brotando, el brillo de Los chiles secos; huele el acido-dulce del tamarindo, el musgo del huitlacoche. Siente como sus pies se despegan del suelo y escucha musica en la distancia...rayando el

sol, me despedL. Sus sentidos se mezclan con el calor y su mareo Lo hace sentir ligero. Mira hacia arriba y sonde. ALcanza ver las nubes por los huecos de los hules colorados, respira...

Gritos. "jSenor, senorUEsta bien?" No los escucha. "jPapa!, jpapa!" levantan. camino.

Tal vez esta sonando.

Dos jovenes lo

La gente aLrededor no lo ven y siguen su Abrazandolo, colgando un brazo en cada

hombro, cabeza inclinada, Lo sacan del caos.

* sabe ranguis;sorpresa semanalgarantizada. Nunca S6 Va troPezar> cac)a puesto es un ~:-ndo dif0n Snte de ,erente' ^etiene el carrito del mandado en " - ^ verduras y se apoya en el. Pide todo de

Lo unico cierto en La vida es la muerte, decia. El tiempo tiene su tiempo. Hay que vivir.

faLl 2010 27

PEER EDIT

by david romero '14

"You know how you're awkward and strange with people and everyone thinks you're weird? That's what I think she's kind of Like too."

that her not being Latina.or Chicana or whatever didn't make me feel any less for her.

Admittedly I had had fantasies of marrying a Mexi­

I couldn't have disagreed more... with the second

can-American chica,of my wife and I getting married in

part; I was conscious of my awkwardness. This girl in

Yucatan or Durango or Jalisco, or Oaxaca or Chihuahua,

front of me, my shamelessly honest neighbor and oc­

celebrating the way Mexicans do, whatever that means.

casional confidant-summed me up spot on, evaluat­

Of her speaking to Mom (MAH-um,as I called herina

ed me, in the ruthless way that only she could. I had

sort of made up Spanglish pronunciation) in that beau­

learned to take such criticism with gritted teeth; it

tiful language without hesitation and redeeming my

bugged me, but I wanted her help in this matter of the

own hestitant speech and grammatical ignorance of el

heart. My neighbor would tell me how to get my crush

sustantivo, of having Spanish Saturdays where little Da­

to notice me,even if it meant swallowing the bitter pill

vid Jr. (or Juan or Ocatvio, if we were bold) would learn

of her cruel yet well-meaning honesty.

El Himno Nacional right before watching ElPartido.Asl

"You should just go for it! This is college! Try new things; you can do it!"

Ugh. I groaned. The girl in question, the one my blunt neighbor and I were talking about, was tailor-

awkwardly sat in my neighbor's dorm complaining thai I just couldn't make the first move and that I would surely make a fool of myself, I only knew one thing for sure.

made to make me fancy her: sweet voiced, un-preten-

I just knew I hadn't felt this way in a long time:

tious, self-aware (but not awkward as my neighbor

only academic essays had kept me up at night so fa-,

suggested, perhaps to make me think that I have a

not thoughts about girls.

chance with said girl), studious, goofy, intelligent, and

I thought of the color brown, not like the color:

not Mexican-American. I wasn't sure how that last

my school but of my skin, a color that was differen:

one influenced my feelings for her. She was White and

much darker than hers.

studying Russian, not the ideal language and ethnicity

"Tell me you'll go for it; you have to now tha.

combo that I had in mind. But even though my Ideal

you've told me all of this! Take a risk! Man up and grow

Girl spoke Spanish and had the same skin tone as me, I

some balls."

never really talked about my heritage or about any sort of struggle of ethnic identity with anyone; I just knew

28 somos

I promise to at least try... Lo prometo.

READ MY EYES

kate Carlisle pen & ink sketch

fall 2010 29

UNIDOS CONTRA O DEUS by geraldo dutra'll

0 primeiro passo para o inferno e a criagao de um deus. Com o poder que Lhe e dado pelo consenso sobre sua onipotencia, o recem-denominado deus cria. Cria luz, cria casas, cria bolsas. E assim, de obra em obra, o deus aumenta seu status.

E na cabega de Fabiano, cuja Vida passa a ser menos Seca por causa das obras, deus se torna cada vez mais deus. Sua logica e indutiva, porque na sua situagao, ele ve nao com os olhos, mas com a barriga. Ouem lhe enche a barriga e o seu deus.

0 problema nao sao as obras do novo deus, mas sim que lhe sao atribuidas. As obras sao necessarias, pois como sociedade decidimos que nao queremos que Baleia morra de fome, nao queremos que A Hora Da Estrela de Macabeia seja causada por sua morte. 0 problema e que esse deus, o deus que cria, utiliza de poderes que lhe sao concedidos para seu proprio espolio, politico ou economico.

ELe diz que tern monopolio sobre as bolsas, que so ele as tern, quer e as pode distribuir. A substancia da bolsa, no entanto, nao e dele, nao vem dele. ELe ganha fama a custo nosso.

Cada vez mais famoso, deus vai criando, criando, criando. Ao mesmo tempo, o deus vai semeando discordia, usando seus Soldados AmareLos para jogar Fa­ biano contra tudo e todos. E assim, o deus cria o mundo que ele antes de virar deus acreditava que existia: um mundo em que classes se confrontam, onde a uniao nao existe. O deus.enfim, nos leva a um inferno.

obrigaqao e comegar a sair deste inferno, o primeiro passo sendo a reconstrugao do nosso conceito de deus. 0 verdadeiro Deus, nao deve ser um ser fisico, concrete. 0 verdadeiro Deus, esta na forca da uniao, na multiplicagao da Fe. Quando um ou mais estiverem reunidos em torno de um objetivo, Deus estara P

Este objetivo ja existe e e de criar um futuro melhor, mais digno,e mais

0 Brasil e melhor que isso.e unido pode mais.

30 somos

HUECO TANKS kimberly arredondo '11 digital photography

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

SOMOS Latino Literary Magazine was established in the 1990s by a group of students who, like us, shared the vision of creating a medium that would bridge the gaps between communities that share Latino experiences. Unfortunately, for a short time, SOMOS was discontinued, but it was revived six years ago and has since endeavored to give voice to the Latino population at Brown and in Providence.

Nicole Parrish gives an account of a car accident in the "Rainy Midwest," using language of music and remote control to communicate the power of a situation and its telling.

"El cumpleanos," a short story by Crystal Vance, tells of a young girl who is frustrated to no end by "el guerito [que] estd en el centro] the little boy who won't stop hitting her pinata.

Rocio Bravo writes of all that she would do to make things right if only she could. The haunting repetition of "si pudiera" in "Todo te lo diem" emphasizes the disempowerment of a situation in which you would, if only you could.

In Morir Sonondo," Jose Rodriguez mourns the newcomer disease" that paralyzes recent Dominican immigrants. He symbolizes this "disease" through snow-the snow that holds "the crisis in confidence that could break down and reshape identities."

The range of art submissions from photography o graphite drawings to watercolor to pastel offer exciting re-imaginings of common subjects. David Hernandez paints his father in a watercolor with a vision "p iT^ °f C0L°rS that produces a surreal vision. Emily Gonzalez draws the Virgen de Guadalupe with a votive candle, creating the illuminating glow of the candle and the virgin herself, with different rokes and effects. The beauty of this semester's ubm.ssionslies'ntheunconventi^ai^p^e^ation of these and other subjects.

We are delighted and honored to present this semester's issue of SOMOS. Sincerely, The SOMOS Team

THE SOMOS TEAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

kimberly arredondo11

SPANISH EDITOR

pablo galindo-payan '13

PORTUGUESE EDITOR silvia dos santos-pereira 12 LAYOUT EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

andrea mcwilliams '12 juan carranza 12 david hernandez'll esteban vasquez'14

SPECIAL THANKS TO: graphic services, ann halL twc, ufb, contributing artists and writers

nterested in joining SOMOS or submitting artwork? Contact us at: somos.brown@gmaiLcom