My México
by Pedro Jesús Martínez
State University of New York at Fredonia
New York City native, Pedro Martínez, double majors in Psychology and Ethnic & Gender Studies with a minor in Spanish as a senior at Fredonia, where he has pursued an ambition to amplify the Latino experience in the United States by creating literature of his own cultural experiences and struggles.
My home away from home,
The source of the strongest and proudest.
Despite being given life outside your borders,
How grateful I am for the fruits of your nurture.
For all my greatest feats,
And all that is left to be done,
Near and afar.
I attribute it to the courage lent from the prideful silk of your colors.
An elegant viridescent hue,
That has accompanied me through my endeavors,
Representative that with hope,
No adversity is impossible to overcome.
An unbending red,
Symbol of the blood shed in your honor,
A firm reminder,
That the sky, in each son, gave us a soldier.
Where would I be?
If not for the resilient values you instilled in me,
That for generations,
handcrafted a successful lineage of mothers and fathers.
Though they lie about your sovereignty,
And pin you as the plague of our continent,
They forget who picks the crops that feed their greed.
A willing ignorance, of course.
A hypocritical stance, for sure,
To call themselves “The Land of the Free”
Yet, while inside the white picket fence,
I’ve only learned how to live in isolation.
There is an irony behind it all,
That I seek refuge in your soil,
Away from the selfish in-groupism,
To once again, cross paths with your unconditional love.
Interview with the Author
What pieces inspired you to start writing poetry?
Mojica Rodriguez’ “For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color” stood out to me for the unbending unapologeticness demonstrated by the author-protagonist throughout the text. Her description of “[adorning] my body with its armor” resonated heavily with me as I struggled to navigate through the social and cultural spaces at my university. Reading her piece inspired me to become unapologetic, leading me to advocate and display my heritage whenever possible, as this is who I am—in turn, leading me to display the same sentiment in my poetry.
What theme do you find yourself constantly writing about in your works?
I enjoy writing about my experience and position as a First-Generation Mexican-American in the United States. Being born and raised in New York City, I’ve been able to see the world differently than many of my peers, having the privilege to know what true diversity can look like. However, when I had to step outside of this comfort zone, it was rough, but I know I’m not the first or last person who’ll go through this kind of culture shock. I won’t be the first or last to feel isolated because they can’t seem to fit in.
If you resonate with my poem, then this one goes out to you!
What do you think are important elements in thought provoking poems?
I emphasize transparency in my work. Painting a picture of the world through the eyes of the author is key to creating a truly thought-provoking piece. While studying the literature of my Ethnic & Gender Studies courses, I was most impacted when the author offered a true-to-life, unapologetic expression of their experiences.
I can only see the world as I see it; so, when I’m invited into the poet's perspective of the world, it gets me thinking about how different my life experiences are from theirs.
What role do you think poetry has on our society today?
Poetry is a form of expression, always has been. It is a portal into the world, as the author sees it. Whether it’s to speak on the injustices happening in the world or the memory of a home-cooked meal, poetry is the ship that transports us there.