How do you feel and
When are you due and
How are you sleeping and 
Will you breastfeed and
How many more do you want and
What is his name and –

“Oh, honey, people like me will say Alias!” she dared. 

Before he could take a breathe, you traded
his dignity for your neat
bow of normal and turned
my joy to dread. 

Elías, mi niño, does not have to bow to your stare,
ensure your comfort at the table and stand
on the sidelines of your snare.

Porque having a Latina mami and white dad
means he must navigate between tios and aunts
between la sala and the den
between tortas and tuna.

Give mi niño safe spaces and
empower him and
value his worth and 
amplify his voice and 
encourage his identidad and 
seek to understand.

Inspiration for this poem form can be found here.