educators

here is a toast to the educator. oh but there is more than only one. lets pop some bubbly for my educators, ancestors of the past...antes del pasado, mis antepasados. weaving the sticks fallen from the trees, a basket they made. in this basket, communally made by my educators, lie my skills, passion, spirit, corazon, luz, dados por el Senor.

you, yeah you, you who believed in me even when i didn't. here is tu you. your belief in me was contagious. i can never stop thanking you. to stop would mean to forget. the seed was planted so i could see my potential. years later i'd know, but it started with you. you were my heart, when i didn't know i had one. you helped me realize laughing out loud was okay. you didn't say "shhhhhhh" like my tia. instead you modeled happiness. you were my example. i am a teacher now thanks to you, i can no longer rely on arrogance because now it seems small. my gift is really huge, bigger than i can recognize, ahhh but it is borrowed. God gave me this gift. take care of it i must. or He will pass it to another. maybe. perhaps its mine to borrow forever, that would be nice. pero uno nunca sabe. here's to the poet who believed i was a poet. girl poet turned woman poet haven't written in so long until now, that shits in my blood. how can i forget. here is to the head who enrolled me in many programs, never afraid to call me out. to this day i am surprised when she does. the audacity? how can you? i am college educated que no? oh but NO. i still got lots to learn. learning same for teaching (cannot be divided). i must always recognize that teaching and learning will matter most for the generations not yet lived.

here is to my seed not yet formed, my daughter will inherit the earrings i don't loose, but also my lengua...mother tongue of the future. daughter you are yet not, but one day you will be. square colors will adorn your room. if you are a boy i might give you away or make you my girl, because daughter you are the one that i want.