Boogie​ ​Down​ ​I​​ ​

The​ ​Bronx;
the​ ​streets:
a​ ​paved​ ​jungle,
a​ ​registered​ ​loaded​ ​gun;
weeds​ ​grown​ ​on​ ​each​ ​cemented​ ​corner, insulated,​ ​incarcerated​ ​dust​ ​balls.​ ​Its dilapidated​ ​gated​ ​communities​ ​adorned
in​ ​barbed​ ​wired​ ​roof​ ​tops,
plump​ ​in​ ​grey​ ​landscape​ ​wrapped
in​ ​slivers​ ​of​ ​green​ ​between​ ​the​ ​stubby​ ​fingers of​ ​buildings.

The​ ​devil​ ​fires​ ​a​ ​shot​ ​and​ ​all​ ​spectacle,
searching​ ​the​ ​landing,​ ​not​ ​a​ ​body​ ​moves.
The​ ​streets​ ​are​ ​paved​ ​in​ ​a​ ​pennied​ ​jungle
for​ ​the​ ​​tecato​ ​​ to​ ​collect​ ​his​ ​debt,
but​ ​the​ ​corner​ ​cat​ ​catapults​ ​with​ ​preciseness
a​ ​blow,
sinking​ ​teeth​ ​and​ ​eyes​ ​that​ ​no​ ​one​ ​dares​ ​see​ ​through

Boogie​ ​Down​ ​II:​ ​Hunts​ ​Point

“Y​ ​Pedro​ ​Navaja​ ​cayó​ ​en​ ​la​ ​acera​ ​mientras​ ​veía​ ​esa​ ​mujer…”                                          – Willie​ ​ Colón​ ​ and​ ​ Joe​ ​ Arroyo

a​ ​trapeze​ ​walker​ ​on​ ​the​ ​tightrope​ ​of​ ​lights hanging​ ​the​ ​sneakers​ ​of​ ​the​ ​dead​ ​on​ ​Hunts​ ​Point. No​ ​tragedy​ ​here​ ​but
the​ ​needle​ ​in​ ​her​ ​step;
She​ ​saunters​ ​with​ ​attitude​ ​y​ ​​un​ ​ pajón disguising​ ​the​ ​blade.

She​ ​was​ ​sold​ ​to​ ​machismo,
a​ ​mother’s​ ​love​ ​insufficient
to​ ​save​ ​her:​ ​​esclavitud​ ​ perpetua​ .
La​ ​ finca​​ ​created​ ​her,
thrived​ ​from​ ​her​ ​​camina’o
and​ ​when​ ​she​ ​spread​ ​her​ ​wings
in​ ​five​ ​inch​ ​stiletto​ ​Timbs,
the​ ​monsters​ ​unleashed​ ​their​ ​hate
nightly.
Lipstick​ ​smear​ ​marked​ ​their​ ​tombstones, empty​ ​eyes​ ​and​ ​grey​ ​skies.
She,​ ​traded​ ​like​ ​the​ ​spices​ ​on​ ​Sunday​ ​morning.

*The opinions and ideas expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the opinions of The Bronx Brand*

Cynthia Roman is a Bronx Native from the West Bronx.  The Bronx has showed Cynthia that if we want to make a difference, we need to be the difference and believe in the community that creates a space that gives power to our young black and brown youth so that they feel capable to make a difference in the world.  She speaks out on injustices including food access, housing opportunities and racism. Her favorite part of living in the Bronx is the food! As a Dominirriqueña, her culture is very present in The Bronx.

You can follow Cynthia on Instagram: @92romanchickens

and on her website: cynthiapoems.wordpress.com