The Poet X

The Poet X
YA novel in verse
"Mira, muchachs
Is Mami's favorite way to start a sentence
and I know I've already done something wrong
when she hits me with 'Look, Girl..."
This time it's, 'Mira, muchacha, Marina from across the street
told me you were on the stoop talking to los vendadores [drug
dealers].'"
Xiomara, protagonist of Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X, has a
very devoutly religious mother. Xiomara has heard that she wanted to
be a nun and was forced by her family to migrate to the United
States. Mom works a cleaning job and spends her commuting time
reading Bible verses to get ready for evening mass. She's determined
that her only daughter (Xiomara has a twin brother) follow in her
saintly footsteps.
"You will be forced to go with her
until your knees learn the splinters of pews,
the mustiness of incense,
the way a priest's robe tries to shush silent
all the echoing doubts
ringing in your heart."
Xiomara is attending confirmation classes and having major
league doubts about a God who doesn't seem to care about her and a
Jesus who seems like a friend from the past who comes around and texts
too much. Mom will not let her put off that committment. She doesn't
intend to support a heathen.
Xiomara has a very developed body. No matter what she does or
where she goes she draws unwanted attention from boys and fully grown
men. Her mother feels that she is at fault. When she got her period
for the first time and bought tampons her mother hit her, told her
that tampons were for whores, and asked if she was having sex. In
fact mother seemed to see her having started menstruating so young
(eleven) as evidence of her sinfulness.
From the guys on the street who have no grasp of the need for
consent to her rigidly religious mother, nobody listens to Xiomara.
She writes her thoughts in verse in a special notebook her brother
gave her.
One day Xiomara goes to her first poetry club meeting. When she
shares her work people are really impressed.
"My little words
feel important, for just a moment.
This is a feeling I could get addicted to."
But how is that going to play with Mommy Dearest, especially
with poetry club being held at the same time as confirmation class?
You'll want to read the book to find out.
On a purrrsonal note, ever heard of Thanksgiving in May? Actually
last year I cooked a turkey in June when I knew Joey cat wouldn't live
to see November. But this year my sister-in-law, Cheryl, cooked up a
bird for a much happier reason. My brother-in-law, Tim, had been on a
tour of duty last November. Now he's stateside and able to celebrate
with us. Having him safe was, in itself, cause for celebration. We
had turkey and all the trimmings. Everything was delish. Cheryl had
the meal outside with optimum social distancing. A good time was had
by all. (Jules)
Turkey is good food. Hoomans should serve it more often. And realize
that when it comes to all feathered creatures on the menu cats are the
quality control experts.
If you want a reason for feeling thankful adopt yourself a cat or
goggie. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to Cheryl, our hostess with the mostest.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway


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