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| “Foster Care or Whatever” by Pia Guerra at The Nib |
todos los nombres
child a
came from central american country x
wearing dust
from three countries
and the sweat of his ancestors
child b
came from central American country z
we think
she was too young to speak
but the twig
she had in place
of the left arm
on her doll
is from a tree
that grows in country z
child c
was just a foot and chancla
wrapped in a serape
child d
was raped
repeatedly
wants to die
but crossed a line
and got picked up
child e
is running
from
a new family
a gang that tattooed
their brand
on virgin skin
and killed the mom
child f
had a good
hardworking clan
but they were taken
in a van
and closed doors
don't explain
anything
child g's clothes were on child h
I
do nothing
child m and n
might be related
by blood
if not by blood
by abuse
from a coyote
with candy
gun
and putrid
acid tongue
o
p
q
r
s
todos los nombres
now
all are safe
behind
fence link
dreamcatchers
German Dario, recently published at The Friday Influence and The Blue Collar Review, resides in Arizona.