cofradia, honduras
their smiles were awkward, uncommon,
i had assumed a genocide of joy
proven wrong as we straddled the soccer field.
kelia brought you a pair of pink booties,
convinced you would be female.
susana gifted you a pink shirt,
also sure you would be a girl.
i had assumed that you would be genderless,
generous despite your uncertain sex,
equally at ease with the softness of feminine colors
and the toughness of masculine hues.
i had assumed you would be ageless,
outrageous despite the ambiquity of your starting point,
as comfortable existing in dustbins of history
as in stormclouds of the present day.
kelia smiled again, as i said thank you,
susana almost laughed, as i said thank you,
but neither would thank me
for everything i could not do.
