she may not know the
inner workings of my soul
or the cogs that turn and click
to make it tick

but she knows to tell me when
my plate is empty
and she boasts proudly of my
college pursuits
of my music of my thin
belly that no amount of
concon morro mangu
pernil pastelon
can fill up
and i am one of the names
on her christmas lists one
of the praised singing
grandaughters
when she bends her head
in prayer
i am one of her
names.