El mango pesado, un sol magullado cuelga bajo,
un corazón henchido de la húmeda pena de tardes
donde las cigarras zumban un lento canto fúnebre,
una hoja susurrante y quebradiza.
Llora. Esta fruta, una lágrima melosa y ambarina,
un testimonio pegajoso de lo que hemos perdido,
los nombres susurrados, el miedo fantasmal y hueco,
los puentes quemados, lo que el amor haya costado.
Pelaremos su piel, una piel arrugada y ocre,
y encontraremos la pulpa, un atardecer, suave y profundo,
una dulzura con amargura en su interior,
como recuerdos que guarda la vigilia herida.
Cada mordisco goteante esun pacto de dolor silencioso,
una comunión compartida en este calor tropical,
saboreamos la pérdida, la lluvia helada e implacable,
los sueños caídos que yacen bajo nuestros pies.
Y en esa pulpa, la fibra, áspera y dorada,
muestra los hilos del dolor entrelazados,
una historia susurrada, centenaria,
una carga universal.
La semilla del mango, piedra de tono sombrío, permanece,
promete una amarga floración, un eco silencioso,
siempre fresco y verdadero, dentro de esta compartida
y fúnebre tumba de mango.
Jean-Pierre Rueda is a bilingual poet and writer from San José Costa Rica currently residing in Compton, CA.
In 2021, Jean-Pierre completed his first Spanish poetry collection, ‘Herencias, published by Alegría Publishing. This anthology delves into themes of love, family, heritage, and pays homage to significant Latinx figures portraying them as pillars of artistic and cultural triumph.
His latest creation, ‘Amor entre aguaceros/Love between downpours,’ stands as a bilingual poetry collection. It is a heartfelt dedication to all those compelled to rely on their imagination to reconnect with their homelands when migration circumstances prevent physical return.
Jean-Pierre’s newest project is co-hosting Esquina Literaria on 1020 KTNQ AM with Emmy winning producer Pili Montilla. This segment discusses literary news, artistic events and the importance of books as svehicle to promote empathy, diversity and artistic curiosity.
He has performed his poetry in film festivals, bookstores throughout Southern California, in Alegria Publishing’s bilingual show Latin América: A Spoken Word Play at Hudson Theaters and Beyond Baroque, as a guest on 88.5 fm The SoCal Sound’s Bilingual Sounds radio show with Byron Gonzalez, and as part of the Dolores Huerta Foundation benefit concert lineup which included El David Aguilar, Fabiola Roudha, lrene Diaz, John Redlove and other artists.
Instagram account: @poetatico
