<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cLearn to sew,\u201d abuela said.<\/span><\/p>\n Pencil in bun, baby blue smock, thimble on her thumb.<\/span><\/p>\n She mended a Levi\u2019s Jean 505 pocket<\/span><\/p>\n motioning toward a green floral seat.<\/span><\/p>\n So I sat beside the 1957 Singer,<\/span><\/p>\n watched worn workers’ clothes renewed.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLearn to bargain,\u201d mam\u00e1 said.<\/span><\/p>\n Face flushed, wine-stained coat, umbrella cane clutched.<\/span><\/p>\n In icy January rain we hustled down 37th Street.<\/span><\/p>\n My fingers brushed along rows of silk, chiffon, Egyptian cotton.<\/span><\/p>\n Shades of orange blended into blushing reds.<\/span><\/p>\n Colors cascaded down from shop windows.<\/span><\/p>\n Waving through the wind like a flag<\/span><\/p>\n for seamstresses, tailors, and garment workers.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLearn to measure,\u201d t\u00eda said.<\/span><\/p>\n Notebook in hand, necklace of tape, two ponytail strands.<\/span><\/p>\n t\u00eda passed me pink tape rolled in a ball,<\/span><\/p>\n unwound numbers trickled down a line.<\/span><\/p>\n My fingers fumbled with a mannequin<\/span><\/p>\n till I grew confident to wrap a string<\/span><\/p>\n around a person, who could move, speak, and ask.<\/span><\/p>\n Read aloud numbers that led to tears or accusations.<\/span><\/p>\n Clock-in, clock-out women who wanted the wrong size.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When I turned 16, I bargained the price of baby blue organza<\/span><\/p>\n with a Turkish store owner on 37th, next to the tailor shop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When I turned 16, I spent hours listening to the hum\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n on a stool by the Bernette Crafter I got for Christmas.<\/span><\/p>\n When I turned 16, I\u00a0 thought I knew everything I needed to know.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hopped a fence, borrowed a key,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n left a post-it note on a Mac screen.<\/span><\/p>\n My hands were shaking thinking we\u2019d get caught.<\/span><\/p>\n You laughed and said, \u201cThis isn\u2019t a real job.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our bare footsteps echoed on wet tiled floors.<\/span><\/p>\n We passed a light blue swim bag left on a bench,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n an orange floral faded cap,<\/span><\/p>\n and a pair of reading glasses resting on the floor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I can still see you standing on the edge\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n reciting some knock-off version of Macbeth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The board dipped beneath the sudden weight,<\/span><\/p>\n then a rippling splash into cold water.<\/span><\/p>\n You reached out your hand,<\/span><\/p>\n and pulled me in with your kind-hearted laugh.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I shivered in the icy water.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You mimicked the movements of sirens, mermaids, and butterflies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The effortless display sinking my worries,<\/span><\/p>\n I brought myself to join in on a freestyle dance.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The clock hit 3 and the music stopped.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAugust 2019<\/strong><\/h5>\n