The tale behind…
A very small writing project for National Photography Month that imagines a backstory for some of my photography.
“Chicas Marrones”
The hibiscus has never bloomed so pretty
The tourists haven’t been here in months
We used to rip a few flowers each from their roots
And chase after the buses that traveled the mountainous terrain
The people come in different colors like flowers
But around here the hibiscus is only red
Like the pricked fingers of our families stuck on the wrong side of Hispaniola to harvest the sugarcane
The tourists think we are Dominican girls because we say “hola” to get their attention
We don’t even know what “hola” means
But each one costs one American dollar
In exchange for a wilted flower taken from its roots
“Cambio de repuesto”
Some days I felt like I was working too hard for the loose change tossed to the old cigar box at my feet
Today, there is nothing
I sit socially distant with a low head
and a song in my hands
I play to the calm air
The waves
The aftershocks
And listen for an echo
