By Briana Gonzalez

Published on 4/1/2024

Life as the first born of latino immigrants:

melodic sound waves of salsa seeping in from la sala

the aromatic scent of glace mangoes cada verano

pressure weighing me down like the redolent ocean waves of Santiago.

the ache to be a role model for mis hermanos

feeling burnt out

but i am their example to follow

the hissing of the olla de presion

running into my papi’s arms when he got home from work, cansado

briana, fuerte y noble

but lost y asustada