Wepa​ ​woman

lives​ ​between​ ​the​ ​couch​ ​cushion: sazones​ ​​ that​ ​spilled
from​ ​last​ ​night’s​ ​​pastelillo​ ,
she​ ​a​ ​puerto​ ​rican​ ​goddess
takes​ ​no​ ​shit​ ​from​ ​​pendejos​ ​​ loitering front​ ​stoops​ ​and​ ​bodegas​ ​ridden with​ ​old​ ​honeybun​ ​wrappers;
her​ ​salsa​ ​awaken​ ​the​ ​vecino, Sunday​ ​mornings​ ​meant​ ​for​ ​cleansing bad​ ​spirits​ ​for​ ​the​ ​new​ ​week​ ​ahead.

She–
swaying​ ​hips​ ​and​ ​hair​ ​wrapped,
a​ ​coconut​ ​queen
stretching​ ​across​ ​mountainous​ ​thighs, Anacaona​ ​in​ ​the​ ​flesh,​ ​drumming​ ​up​ ​a​ ​fever of​ ​island​ ​sun,​ ​bronze​ ​skin​ ​tight,
wearing​ ​nena’s​ ​face,​ ​a​ ​legacy​ ​of​ ​strong brown​ ​women.
Wepa​ ​women​ ​rise,
chancletas​ ​slice​ ​through​ ​the​ ​air,
whipping​ ​through​ ​Bronx​ ​pollution

*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