Alina Candeleria - Pamela Stone Singer

[Larry Robinson]

Alina Candeleria


I.
I thought it was an incantation, her name,
the way she said it in the singsong voice of a proud 5 year old. 
alinaramondiazamorosacalenderia 

Or a jingle, the way her lips pursed 
perfectly in a subtle smile, vowels accentuated.

She waits in the salon while mother gets her hair cut.
Shows me her leopard print vinyl coat with bubble gum pink polyester lining.
Crosses her ankles, feet in ballet slippers.
Hair, a cape down her back. Quizzical brown eyes.
alinaramondiazamorosacalenderia

II.
Alina tells me her brother, Hector is in 4th grade and he’s 16. 
Her father, Ernesto is 16 too.  Alina says,“They are very old.”
She tells me a story.

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Alina. Her mother, Silvia, is having her hair cut so Alina has to wait in the salon. Her mother cooks. Her father builds fences. Her brother eats pizza and tacos.

I ask her to draw a picture.
Square lines create a house. 
Windows radiate light.
Stick figure of Alina waving.
Figure of Hector eating a taco.

III.
But the house is sinking.
Glass on the ground.
Broken door.
Tacos are burning.
Stick figures disappear.

IV.
Will Alina know about the deep rivers
and that her mother had to learn to swim 
right then and there, never falter?
Clothes on her back like skin.
Father in detention camp on floor cold as fear.
Alina Ramon Diaz Amorosa Calenderia              


              - Pamela Stone Singer