Could you see the sun from where you woke"

"LAST SEEN IN OAKLAND PARK"

By Azalea Aguilar

For Luis Armando Albino

Where did they take you
When they lured you with sweetness 
Merry go round still spinning
Swing frozen mid air
Mud fresh on your Adidas
How far did you travel in the backseat of that Ford
Before you realized streets were unfamiliar
Home far behind you now, getting further still
How long did your brother stand there calling out your name 
Did the meals offered taste too salty or bland
Could you see the sun from where you woke
How many days passed before 
You stopped remembering
Your mama's face
The steps of your front porch
Your Tios laugh
The warmth of your dog curled up beside you
What name did they give you
Did it feel strange on your tongue
Did you forget it was yours during roll call at school
Were there memories of a time before
When that phone rang 73 years later
Did you recognize the voice on the other end

Azalea Aguilar is a Chicana writer originally from Corpus Christi Texas, home of Tejana superstar Selena Quintanilla. Azalea moved to DC in 2002 with her then five month old son and has called the DMV home ever since. She holds a Masters of Social Work from the Catholic University of America and has recently opened a private therapy practice. Azalea is a mother to three magnificent children ages 23, 11, and 7 who constantly inspire her and keep her busy. She currently resides in District Heights, MD with her husband and young girls not far from her sister Dahlia Aguilar, who is also an accomplished writer. Azalea’s poems often focus on her personal experiences with generational trauma, grief, growing up around addiction and motherhood. When she isn’t writing, seeing clients, or spending time with her family you can find her reading, sitting around a fire, or watching live music. 

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