Borderline Verses Guadalupe Quintaña
BorderlineVerses Guadalupe Quintaña
Borderline Verses © Guadalupe Quintaña 2025
Layout design by Julie Cajigas
foreword
Borderlineverseswas chosen as the titleforthis short collection ofverses because theword has multiple meaningsforme
As a MexicanAmerican, I have a relationshipwith the Borderand it has implicationsformylife It is also an ode to the intersectionalitythat makes me Mexican,American and Muslim I alwaysfeel as though I am on the "fence" orthe border
These are theverses that showlife through my eyes
The number of cultures I hold dear sometimes make ME feel unable to fully immerse myself into any of them Other times, I recognize that I am a perfect combination in my own way It comes with positives and negatives
On the positive side, I appreciate my diversity and ability to be culturally sensitive to everyone I am what America considers "minority" as I am a person of color (POC), a Latina, and a Muslim I am also the American Dream I worked my ass off to be the first in my family to have an education and go further than being a laborer
The negatives are a little more bleak I have been called things like a terrorist and an illegal I was literally run off the road for driving while wearing a hijab The other driver told me to "leave his country" and that I was what was wrong with America
In today's current climate, when considering ICE and the Trump administration’s actions, I am committed to being the voice for the voiceless
I will not be deported, but others may, and I will speak loud for those who cannot, as that is what my late mother (who was an illegal immigrant) would expect of me I was raised with pride and a sense of justice, and I will always stand up for what is right
InAkron I find a saferplaceformyvoice (as safe as can be found in 2025 in the USA)
Akron is a diverse place and more often than not people were kind to me except afewtimesfrom some misled souls whom I forgive
Akron is a beautiful place it it breeds peoplewho are accepting and curious in the mostwonderfulway; those whowill also stand upforwhat is right andwill scream louderforthosewith silencedvoices
Theverses thatfolloware myattemptto bring others into myworld and share mydreams, fears and hopesforour culture inAkron and in mycountry
Guadalupe Quintaña
“Para mi familia Papí who has my heart, Aneela and Alóndra who have my soul.
And to Julie who believed in me and provided advice, friendship and artwork along the way.
”
LifeLine
soft brown hands
braiding my hair
offering me tortillas with beans
Mexican hot chocolate in the cold of winter
Telling me that you are proud of me that I am smart that I have value
You came to this country with nothing
Just to give me everything who am I without you?
A part of me is missing no one seems to understand without you here
I do not feel Mexican anymore I do not feel myself anymore when I lost you, I lost my lifeline.
So I Put My Makeup On
When I was a child, I was told that a real woman is always "made up," Later my hips widened, and my chest grew, so I put my makeup on
All my teenage years, I felt lonely and barely had friends,
I could not show the world how I felt, so I put my makeup on
I became an adult, and found a sweet moment and a pregnancy to match, I could not convince them to find happiness, so I put my makeup on
My mother overdosed and died, leaving me homeless, I could not let the world know how it hurt me, so I put my makeup on
I had no support system, but despite it all, I applied to the University of Akron, hoping to make a better life for my small family, So I get up in the morning and put my makeup on, the future is mine and I will flourish,
I am graduating in May, So I put my makeup on
Aneela
I see my own eyes looking back at me but they are brown and not green
I see my own light skin but with less freckles
I see my lips but a little more full
I see half of me
I see the best friend The Most High knew I needed The same taste the same music the same humor when they saw photos of me as a toddler they swore it was you
I see me, I see YOU you are me and I am you but at some point you will just be Aneela
Green Eyes/Ojos Verdes
a bright room, so full of people and yet so empty was when I first met your green eyes you did not cry, and I did not feel the attachment they said I would, after a few days, we left together you still did not cry, but looked at me with those forest greens, I felt abandoned, but you had formed a place in my heart I felt I had to become something greater for you, the way you looked at me with those green eyes, I had to become someone for US my green eyes
Alternate Reality
It is summer and raining,
Watermelon and Pepsi,
Neon Genesis Evangelion is on,
J-POP is playing in the background
I feel connected deeply to a root I did not come from
It is winter and snowing,
Hot cocoa and ice skating,
J-POP is playing on my headphones, in this moment I feel like I am from another place, I feel connected deeply to a root I did not come from
It is Autumn and warm,
Hot tea and pumpkin muffins, The leaves are yellow, red and brown my ears are flooded with the same sounds as always my head in the clouds
I feel connected deeply to a root I did not come from
It is Spring and sunny, sweet fruits and light breeze, I look out my window, there is a Sakura tree,
J-POP is playing in the background
I feel deeply connected to a root I did not come from
One day I will go to Japan, it is the homeland I have never yet known
Stolen
I wanted privacy so I told them I did not want any parents there yours came anyway and it stole from my own
I wanted to take my time
But someone else wanted to rush the first times piece by piece stolen from me and my words fell on deaf ears
They were permitted to do things their way but never was I Moments fleeting to never return no fond memories to reminisce upon
My sweet soul I will miss the memories I did not get
Sinvergüenza
too quiet too skinny too weird where can I fit in? time passes too loud too chubby too much where can I fit? too proud too moody too angry too American too Mexican where can I fit? unapologetically me maybe too much I cannot become like water to please you I fit the shape perfectly of who I AM sinvergüenza or without shame