Cholita Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Cholita:
“You see me…”
Then a sigh
“…in your Gringo eyes,
Green like algae and blue like skies…”
Then a sigh
And frown, and timid, stoic
And she turned to mirror
In her eyes history on a rock
Ollantay
Fearful, hesitant
Pleasure and the pain all the same
Impassive
All were one, without a difference
“…this is my story…”
“…this is my strength…”
However
Polomitsa she was
Or rather
A lion with power
And she talked
And defined
In city and around
“…Cholita, work of art, work of harm…”
Iconic history
“…this fashion is a curse…”
Lost in heart was my mouth
In ears was my tongue
I listened and I watched
And blunt, sure she was
Thick-skinned
With no rights
Under hat pollera, shawls and Jewells
Cholita an insult
Cholita an abused
Cholita her mother
Cholita her daughter
And
Cholita’s pride is Cholita’s revenge