When we read the amazing poem this weekend by our friend and fellow writer Efrain Ortiz Jr, it got us thinking: it’s time to express pride. So, if you are a Puerto Rican poet, writer, blogger or just one proud boricua, add your link to your poem down below in the comments section or add a few lines about why your pride is deeper than some parade on 5th Avenue. ¡Viva el orgullo boricua!
My Own Parada
My own parada
I dance in my heart
My own bandera
I fly in my soul
My own patria
I love in my blood
My own pueblo
I scream to be free.
I banish all these things to EL CARAJO:
Boricua Kangols
Boricua shirts with boricua shorts with boricua socks and boricua shoes
Boricua cars covered with boricua pennants and boricua horns
Boricua shouts that would rather scream for JLO and Reggaetón instead of Albizu
My own parada
I celebrate in my heart
My fellow boricuas
Paren la parada falsa
Stop the false parade
Celebren sus propias paradas
Celebrate your own parades.
© Julio Ricardo Varela