Feliz Cumpleaños

Yasmilka Clase

arroz con leche
me quiero casar
con una señorita
de San Nicolás

radio plays from kitchen window

heat rays tug-of-war with wind
I beg for mami to cook arroz con leche
volume goes up

que sepa coser
que sepa planchar
que sepa abrir la puerta
para ir a jugar.

brown bowls of arroz fill the table
reminiscent of eyes, tear-filled from laughter
canela heats belly
estoy salva

film reel captures birthday wishes
hands clap in unison as they hover over me
lips pucker up against candle
listo, sopla!

la cera spills over my bowl of arroz
mami scoops it out with silver spoon
burnt tongue forms sweat beads on forehead

arroz sits on windowsill, next to radio on repeat

con ésta sí! con ésta no!

rice in water, mixed with milk and saliva
stimulates sweet tooth
tongue licks lips for creamy residue

con esta señorita me caso yo!

Yasmilka Clase is a poet/writer, from the Bronx, studying poetry in the MFA program at City College. She currently runs an online business inspired by her poetic journey to try and make the creative world more inclusive to those that feel like an outsider looking in. Find her on IG @poetic.yaz @creatively.yaz.