spanish

spanglish

hispanic

is north america’s second language

taught poorly in schools

coached in offices

shouted from rooftops

and cackled in homes

my mom really only spoke fluently

when she was angry or gossiping

it never sounded romantic to me

like its own heaviness

a language

to be muttered

under the breath of grumpy puerto rican men

as morenos walk by

for second generation children to scold their children

and for Hollywood

whenever a character

needs to curse in a pg-13 movie