Welcome to the neighborhood!

You enter the arcade, you get
your card, then turn to go
to the lights, that aren’t far.

You hear all the sounds,
maybe a blaster or a car.
There are clicks, pings,
or pounds.
Oh, so many sounds.

The carpet, so soft.
The taste of food.
Yet such a lack of smell.
But still fun after all.

The Mall,
bright white lights,
almost blinding to the sight.
Stores packed together,
restaurants, candy stores,
and clothing stores.

The sound of people talking.
The sound of people walking,
even whispering,
all together at once.

The smell of food.
The food court.
Plastic and Pretzels,
the stench of grease.

Hamburgers, hot dogs,
anything you can taste,
overwhelming sweetness,
tasteful.

The rubbery feel of balloons,
the overwhelming touch of jeans.
The feeling of a zipper on a sweater,
overwhelming the senses.

On the sidewalk,
I see the pink sight,
that says Crumble Cookie.
You can touch the crumble
cookie box because its
too cool for school.

Alicja is tasting all the
yummy Oreo cookies,
baking in the oven.

Alicja and me smell
the yummy cookies
coming out the oven.

Cause we too cool
for school.

Ooh, yess Crumble
Cookie!

Wisconsin Dells
Kids screaming
Adults talking
Teens tanning

Standing in line,
the food here cost
more than a dime.
People cutting the line,
which is not kind.

Screaming while going down
the slide,
Waiting in line all over again.
Just to race down again.

Reapplying sunscreen,
which stings my eyes.
Mom comes back with nachos,
equals having a great time.
Wisconsin Dells.

The huge green field,
the children playing
at the playground.
The huge soccer nets,
smell the freshly cut
grass.

I know my way around here,
I grew up here.
I come here for one reason
to play soccer.

It calms me,
this is the first place I go,
The big white nets standing out
I love my park.

When you walk in
you hear the bell
on the door jingle.
The screech from
pulling out the chair
and the overlapping
chatter of people
ordering.

The smell of cheesy,
sweet, and spicey elotes,
as well as the fresh fruit
stuffs your nose.

The ice-cold touch
of the plastic container
with the mangonada
as the plastic touch
of the spoon that
comes with it.

As I open the door of Guitar Center,
I get embraced with the rhythmic
noises of beautiful sounding guitars
that make me feel like I’m on the clouds.

When I walk inside to get my go to guitar,
my nose gets filled with the warm
smell of wood.

I get to my go to guitar, the Ibanez
the Ibanez Sr. I bass and Tukumine gd 3.
I carry the bass and sit it on my right leg
and pluck the heavenly copper core strings
and I start to jam out.

I take a seat and order Peri Peri wings,
with mild sauce. My brother sitting
across from me with a bright blue
coat that makes me chuckle.
They place down the wings,
and I pick one up, the sauce
all over your hands,
and the spice of your first
bite and the aroma of many
seasonings, lemon, herbs,
and sour chicken.
The sound of people calmly
chatting.
When you leave,
you be full, but still
want more.

Going into an aisle with my cart,
seeing people trying to buy the
same stuff as me.

I grab a pack of cookies,
feeling its boxed package,
putting it into my cart.

Going to another aisle,
the aroma of baked goods
fill the air.
I grab some baked bread
and place it in the cart.

I go check out,
items beeping, bags shuffling,
and the movement of carts
is heard.

Leaving the store,
feeling something is forgotten.
I left the keys in the car.

At the time I enter to church,
I enter to the hope
I enter to my calm
I enter and I give
my time to God.
When the hold water comes
into contact with my skin
I feel like a different person.
When I eat the ostia,
I feel like a better person,
and with the lesson
they tell us, makes me
be grateful for what I have.
With God in front of me,
I feel safe.
The smell of the food,
they give us after church,
makes me think of all the
food God has given me.

We landed in an island,
that feels like summer
but in winter.
Every time we come,
our relatives are excited,
so am I.
Birds chirp,
rain pours.
Everything has come true.
Ready to adventure,
Ready to visit,
my entire life.
All different food
is how culture works,
and I am ready
to explore.

Welcome to Puerto Rico.

The soft white blanket
on the couch.
Yummy vanilla ice cream
with sprinkles on top.

The smell of pine sol everywhere
you walk.
Chichi, the small chihuahua,
with the colors of brown
and white spots, barking
at me while I walk through
the door.

Family pictures above the fireplace.
Easter decorations around the fireplace
Baby toys everywhere, because of
younger cousin.