The Acentos Review May 2012
 
Bio James Sanchez is from Hialeah, Florida. He holds a B.A. in English from Florida International University. He currently teaches English and Creative Writing at Ronald W.  Reagan High School in Doral, Florida. His work has appeared published in Poui: the Cave Hill Literary Annual.
1 Poem Abuela     For Gloria Gonzalez   I smell the grease from the pork chops that a trucker has just ordered It’s Davie A Waffle House Only one of the patrons speaks Spanish Cuba to them is Elian Fidel looking like Charlie Daniels It’s an island It might snow Who knows? Who cares? I think of you abuela Manteca over white rice as I surgically slice the tenderly prepared chuleta Shining in the kitchen light I see the stainless steel mallet with the notches on the head Placed there probably by a Mexican woman who remembers her abuela making tortillas While her children and grandchildren were shot trying to cross Over towards Heaven. Each notch a reminder of a bullet wedged into a man’s body You didn’t see that or did you Flattening my pork chops Sprinkling garlic salt gingerly over them Your old life beaten hands massage the meat I see you abuela at the countertop turning the stove on with the front door wide open The chuletas always slid towards the middle of the skillet They were well behaved I wish I could smell those chuletas truly again Hear the sizzling The popping The symphony of home cooking The smell would knock on every door of that fifth floor in east Hialeah If they wouldn’t open it would crawl under and love reigned Abuela In my dream I finish my chuletas gather the last forkful of rice with my thumb (don’t tell Dad) I see you abuela rise from the table and smile As if you were full As if you were content You take my plate and glass Place them in the sink I run to your bed to play with coins as you make coffee