Poetry by: Veana Barajas
Featured Artwork: Princessa Xicana
Edited by: Bianca Huntley Ortega
El Machismo
They want us to make our own money
But still, cook, clean, take care of the kids
They want us vibrant and charming
But always dim our lighting.
They want us beautiful
But hate if our personality isn’t merciful.
They want us to be able to let loose
But set limits to what that energy can seduce.
They want us to be successful
But not if they have to take a back seat
They want you honest
But feed you lies like a fucking treat.
They want us happy
But only when they feel content
They want us quiet
But expect us to make our own friends.
They want us strong
But begging at their feet
They want us independent
But act like without them, we cannot eat.
They want us DTF
But without mileage or any past tense
They want us loyal
But constantly test their end.
They want us resilient
But continue to break us …
only for them
Mujeres
Inspired by: Latinx/Mexican women
And all who identify as them
The women of our ages
Mujeres Mujeres Mujeres!
You are the destroyer, giver, and taker,
You are the only one-man peacemaker.
Only you are capable of standing on your own,
Only you can laugh even when you are torn.
You are life bursting at the seams,
You are what fills lives with thousands of meanings.
Only you have a smile that can fill a room,
Only you can appreciate God’s gifts given too soon.
You are the quiet night when it is screaming,
You are the only one, true, life feeling.
Only you can murder with your love,
Only you can walk this world untouched.
You are the ruler of every world,
You are the only bestower of every soul.
Only you get up
After being knocked down over and over,
Because
Only you can carry the world of “man”
on your shoulders.
You are powerful, loud, and beautiful,
You are the souls of ALL the great women who stood here before you.
Tu eres Mujeres
Antes y después
Tu eres Poderosa
Empoderada
Y Hermosa
Tu eres
Cada cuerno
Y el flor
Y juntas,
somos
las
Mujeres de Nuestras Edades.
Veana will graduate from Fresno State with a degree in both Criminology and Chicano Latino American Studies in 2022 and is looking forward to law school shortly thereafter. Veana is in the current process of educating herself to one day fight American laws for the rights of immigrants and the civil rights of her people.