American Muñeca POETRY

Emely Rodriguez

Brown and beautiful, I repeated in my head as I encircled you, Josefina. Red pen promises: I’ll have you with this circle. How I wanted to see your face on Christmas, post-gifts. Instead I saw Nicki—

American Girl Doll of the year. Expensive, my mouth tasted over and over as I twitched a smile to Mama who I know dropped more than I had wanted so that I could have the latest muñeca; I was ungrateful.

I gulped down questions I couldn’t phrase. Stupid, I thought. To have wanted you, Josefina, when no one wants the brown girl.