I’ve Become…

I’ve Become 

 

All purpose flavor 

a bit of salt, baking powder 

and an ice cream scoop of manteca

plus plenty of water to make the 

right consistency for the masa.

Flat and round as possible, two or three

minutes on the hot comal,

 

I’ve become… a homemade tortilla 

 

Throughout the years

I’ve become many things in life 

a son

the baby boy

a little big brother 

who is so bright but at the beginning 

was so innocent 

shy 

timid and curious with life.

In life 

can’t deny my Chicano pride.

Never having to gang bang, but having that 

Mas chingon cholo swagger. 

Looks can be deceiving, who would have known,
I’ve become a true convict, a pinto, as the fellow

Burquenos 

homies, call it down here.

It wasn’t planned by me Chale 

I’ve become what my path leads me to

A purpose, an inspiration to others.

I’ve become an experiment for others.

I’ve become an example 

Please I ask you don’t have me make one out of you.

I’ve become something that I’m proud of, not by choice…

a beaner. 

 

~JJ aka JS 

 

I Have Become 

 

When I look back on my life

I could sit here and feel sorry

for myself, and say that life dealt 

me a bad deal.

 

I could blame my

problems on the physical, mental, and 

sexual abuse I experienced as a child 

 

I could say that the

people I hung out with as a teenager 

influenced me and brought me down.

 

I could tell you some sad story,

and play the victim about 

how my life has panned out 

 

But I choose to look beyond these walls,

to look at the positive rather than the negative.

So you ask what I have become…

 

I’ve become a person that looks past the color of your skin.

I’ve become a person that doesn’t let society bring her down

because of their bigotry. 

I’ve become a person who forgives, rather than blames 

I’ve become a person that expresses her pain.

I’ve become a person that 

holds her head held high, when facing adversity.

I’ve become a person who 

refuses to play the victim 

 

“I’ve become a survivor!”

 

~DD 

 

I’ve Become 

 

I’ve become another statistic of an 
environment I claim home. Sad to say
I’m more afraid to go home to a full house of 
family but a heart of nothingness
due to a self-inflicted tragedy 
I call myself.
My life starting over 
from under the supervision of another 
I’ve become unserving of myself ’cause 
of all the flaws I have
In a perfect world 

in some’s eyes 

my heart covered in scars 

my arms in tracks 

all the pain I’ve given

that I can’t take back

It’s easy to say 
what I’ve become 

but seems hard as fuck to remember 

any good things I’ve done. 

I’ve become a 
liar, a cheat, a thief, slash drug addict 

What a son…

Well, I’m at the bottom now looking up

haunted by the sound of a key
look what I’ve become. 

 

~SMS