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by Elani Spencer

Roanoke es nuestra casa
sharing your traditions
like the Taquero passing out
tacos de al pastor y carnitas
on the corner
raising your children
on the star-shadowed mountainside
teaching them both Southern manners
and bachata in the living room
Abuela watching over you
from the ofrenda
the dripping candles flickering
under her breath as she whispers:
Gracias Dios
then presses her rosary to her lips

Roanoke es nuestra casa
jugging chilled coquito y sangria
on back porches
fighting the summer heat
while sticky-fingered kids
suck on bolis
& scrounge up change for the Julep lady
screaming vivir mi vida
at the top of your lungs
at la fiesta cumpleanos de primo
throwing los platanos in the fryer
watching the grease splatter
as arroz con gandules simmers on the stove

Roanoke es nuestra casa

Esta a su casa
where your accents aren’t too thick
where your existence isn’t alien
where you’re allowed to be Dominican or Argentinian
not just Mexican

They’re not all the same!

Pero nosotros estamos familia

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