A Miami Mixtape Poem

 

Growing up in Miami was a Celia Cruz song

With the sweltering hot timbales

Of late afternoon suns beating strong.

The rhythms of families: the fights, the parties,

Buena Noches at Abuela’s, sleep-overs at Tia’s,

A rueda of primas to always play Barbies.

 

Teenhood in Miami was an Uncle Luke song

With the fast, furious beat of always something to do:

The beach, park, mall, texting with a beeper all day long.

The pumping of skates for birthdays at Hot Wheels,

Dance parties in Daisy Dukes shaking to the bass,

And to the Youth Fair for Elephant Ears and squeals.

 

Adulting in Miami is a music mix of songs I miss:

It’s the Beatles’ Help! raising a child in this hectic­ wild;

It’s Eddie Santiago salsa when Hubby and I kiss;

It’s Linkin Park’s Numb on the Palmetto 2-hour traffic;

It’s Flo Rida’s Right Round teaching 150 students a day;

But overall, as Mr. 305 says, living in Miami’s fantastic!

 

_{timbales = timpani}

_{Buena Noches = Christmas Eves}

_{Abuela = Grandmother}

_{Tia = Aunt}

_{rueda = wheel; casino salsa wheel of dancers}

_{primas = female cousins}