Desert ants drunk with coconut oil
on the tiled ledge of my blue shower
They might be
Sandra‘s ants
Sandra hated those ants
and taught me
the most important palabras
in italics between her Americana
Besides
the valley boys
would throw a soda and yell
pinche guero
but
My friend’s mother would press tortillas
and after-school green salsa
with strawberries
and softly stroke our fuzzy heads
Hijito
So Sandra belonged and
would appear when my pain was deepest
like good poets do
unfolding pages of penitencia
for me to build new memories with
Even and especially in my blue-tiled shower
with my las hormigas
June 9, 2026
arden briar smith