Speaking to My Dad (After Muriel Rukeyser)
Jadelini Mora
Yes, I was speaking to my dad
Yes, I didn’t get a single word
Yes, I can’t speak Spanish fluently
Yes, I would simply nod my head
Yes, we went out for frozen yogurt in silence
Yes, we went on car rides together in silence
Yes, we ate together and laughed at nothing
Yes, we hugged each other
Yes, we bullied each other
Yes, we fought and didn’t talk for days
Yes, we made up regardless
Yes, that day I saw a picture when he was young
Yes, our faces and mannerisms are identical
Yes, our personalities align
Yes, our differences show
Yes, we are father and daughter
Yes, I sat with the fact that he’s growing old
Yes, I regret ever being embarrassed about him
Yes, I wish I could tell him I’m sorry
Yes, I wish I could’ve spoken to him more in the past
Yes, I saw how our eyes would meet
Yes, there was a language barrier between us
Yes, there was silence between us
Yes, there was understanding between us
Yes, there was love between us
Yes, I was speaking to my dad
Jadelini Mora is from Malden, Massachusetts. A member of the class of 2027, she is in the School of Arts and Sciences with an interest in labor and employment to establish ethical ways to protect workers’ rights. She spends her time reading, playing volleyball, and writing.
Jadelini wrote this poem in a course taught by Joanna Fuhrman, who selected the piece for inclusion in WHR.