My Revolutionary by Yosimar Reyes

Yosimar Reyes, "two-spirit and gangsta'," is a poet and activist based in San Jose, California. His work is included in Mariposas: A Modern Anthology of Queer Latino Poetry. Listen to more of his poetry at www.myspace.com/yosimarreyes

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Captions by: the Radical access Mapping Project
http://radicalaccessiblecommunities.wordpress.com/

You tell me you dont like the city

That these buildings, this concrete

Numbs the senses, cages the spirit,

And baby, your spirit was meant to be free.

You my love were born to be revolutionary

Like the winds we felt sitting on top of the world

Free like the tobacco you offered me to blow blessings

Free like palabras sagradas que salen de tu boca
(like Sacred words that flow from your lips)

Y las rimas femeninas y masculinas
(and the feminine and masculine rhymes)

that you bust here on stage.

You are my revolutionary

Not a guerrero (warrior) but a healer

Because in times of conflict, mi rey (my king) you heal.

And more than body I must agree with you that you are spirit

Because more than your flesh I am in love con el Corazon que tienes (with the heart that you carry)

You are the reason why I love men with noble hearts

The reason why I dont mind sharing a bed with someone

For men like you I would ride a million BARTs

Get lost in Oakland

And find your house beneath the brightest star

Mi Vida (my Love)

You come from tierra (land)

Where the spirits of those who failed to cross over roam

You come from el desierto (the desert)

But baby we all know you are not deserted

You got me and together we are 4 spirits

Like the 4 directions

You got the creator behind you

You are his creation

His masterpiece

And in this journey you are travelling
you have managed to leave your footprints in my heart.

I carry your breath in my hair

Your teachings in my two spirits

You are fluid

Como los Rios que nuestra gente a cruzado
(like the rivers our people have crossed)

You remind me that the only possessions we have in this world

Are our bodies and our voice

And the combination of the two must be used

To honor the spirits of los antepasados (the ancestors)

This life is a ritual

And in its sacredness I am so glad I am able to hug you

You are my revolutionary

And as you make your transition back home

Into the arms of your mother

Into the lips of your father

I ask that you take this poem with you

I ask that you take a memory of me with you

Plant these, en la tierra que te vio nacer
(in the land that gave birth to you)

En esa tierra que hacido bautizada
(the land that has been baptized)

Con la sangre sagrada de nuestra gente
(with the blood of our people)

And I will assure you

That where ever you be

This love will sprout anew

Como el sol por las mananas (like the sun light in the morning)
this poem will shine on you.

Now go, to where ever home is,

Knowing that in San Jose

You leave a brown boy
that has nothing but love and respect for you.

In the mean time,

I will stay here

in this shitty city, in this cage,

Singing and singing

Till this system crumbles

Till borders break

And our people become awake

I will be here

Singing and singing till the day

In which we are all free to return

HOME.