A Sandra Cisneros Poem...

Old Maids
by Sandra Cisneros

My cousins and I,
we don't marry.
We're too old
by Mexican standards.

And the relatives
have long suspected
we can't anymore
in white.

My cousins and I,
we're all old
maids at thirty.

Who won't
dress children,
and never
saints -
though
we undress them.

The aunts,
they've given up on us.
No longer nudge - You're next.

Instead -
What happened in your childhood?
What left you all mean teens?
Who hurt you, honey?

But we've studied
marriages too long -

Aunt Ariadne,
Tia Vashti,
Comadre Penelope
querida Malintzin
Señora Pumpkin Shell -

lessons that served us well.

Source: Loose Woman (1994)

Curtains by Sandra Cisneros

Curtains (from My Wicked Wicked Ways: Poems)
by Sandra Cisneros

Rich people don't need them.
Poor people tie theirs into fists
or draw them tight as modest brides
up to the neck.

Inside they hide bright walls.
Turquoise or lipstick pink.
Good colors in another country.
Here they can't make you forget

the dinette set that isn't paid for,
floorboards the landlord needs to fix,
raw wood, linoleum roses,
the what you wanted but didn't get.

Waiting for a Lover by Sandra Cisneros

Waiting for a Lover
by Sandra Cisneros

And what if you don't arrive?
And what if you do?
I'm so afraid
I cross my fingers,
make a wish,
spit.

You're new.
You can't hurt me yet.
I light the candles.
Say my prayers.
Scent myself with mangoes.

I like the possibility of anything,
the little fear I feel
when you enter a room.
I haven't a clue of the who of you.

And what if you do like me?
And what if you do?
I can't think.
Dress myself in slinky black,
my 14-karat hoops and my velvet spikes.
Smoke two cigars.
I'm doing loopity loops.

Listen - cars roar by.  All night.
I'm waiting for the one that stops.
All my life.  Listen -
Hear that?
Yikes.

Random Monday

Today's number was 53.  The book selected was Woman Hollering Creek: And Other Stories by Sandra Cisneros. 

I read this book years ago when I researching texts for my MA thesis and absolutely wound up loving it. I knew I would, considering that I fell in love with Cisneros' writing after reading her debut novel, The House on Mango Street.  Cisneros' books are filled with vivid descriptions, colorful characters, and intriguing story lines.  For me, relating to the stories on a personal level was so easy, because of the fact that I'm Latina (just like Cisneros and her characters).  It felt comfortable reading her works, because what she described was so familiar to what I had experienced growing up that I finally connected with an author's work on a personal level based on my ethnicity; which was both surreal and awesome.  I had never really read any works by Chicana authors before, which was crazy to me. How could I not have read books about my own culture? Instead I just read about everyone else's.  Oh well, I had finally come home and that was just icing!  Once I read Cisneros, I moved on to Anzaldua, Moraga, Chavez, Lopez and so many others. Cisneros definitely opened the door for me to a new batch of writers and worlds that were both familiar and different.  Makes me smile just thinking about it. Also makes me realize how long its been since I've read anything by these writers lately - too long!  Hmmm. I'm going to have to rectify that.  Perhaps a re-read of something old and wonderful or the purchase of something new and exciting will do the trick. 

As for this book in particular. Well, it is a wonderful group of short stories focused on the social role of women, specifically within relationships.  Cisneros utilizes the stereotypical archetypes of men and women in order to examines the ways in which these social roles affect and influence womens' issues (identity, sexuality, race, class, etc.).  Her writing is powerful and mesmerizing and takes you on a journey through these women's lives via their personal struggles to achieve their dreams of freedom and love.  The book is divided into three sections: childhood, adolescence, adulthood.  Her tone and style is poetic and easily captures the readers' attention.  She also integrates the Spanish language into her text in order to demonstrate the fluidity and combination of both cultures within each other.  All I can write is that Cisneros is an author that should be read and whose work is an important part of contemporary literature because of its ability to cross borders creatively, linguistically and intellectually.  Her feminist passions are evident throughout the book, which for me was not a problem (of course I'm a feminist who studied Chicana feminism) - I think it just demonstrates how Cisneros utilizes her writing as a way to not only describe her culture, but also as a means of presenting important women's issues to a broader audience.  All in all, a great piece of fiction.

Happy Reading!!!