Pequeña Ciudad 

Melisha Amboise

Sitting near the coconut tree, 

the bachata music plays  

from afar. 

Yayo begins to say, 

“Dance with me milu.” 

moving to the beat of Aventura, 

Yayo’s face questions me with a 

slight eyebrow raise. 

Among all the nieces and nephews. 

Yayo whispers to me, 

“Santo Domingo is yours 

you just have to take it.”