LatinosUSA

I asked Ma
for a TV of my own,
to watch
Wimbledon reruns,
Netflix movies for teens.
anything…just anything
to prevent from joining
communal watching
in the living room
with family
simply coz.
our tastes collide too often

but I saw her face stiffen
before she even spoke
that look which said
absolutely not
and I could almost read
her thoughts in cursive handwriting
An enabling act.
One more excuse
for her to disappear into herself.

never mind.
I know the tricks
of manipulation
…skip meals at the table,
…clang the drums loud enough
…bruising high-octane conversations,
…with guests visiting
making this house feel
the weight of my sulking

it worked before.
it will work again.
and honestly,
I don’t even care about the FIFA matches
I want the Discovery Channel
oceans, deserts, migrating wolves,
roads curling around mountains,
tribes crossing frozen rivers,
anything which keeps moving
simply because they can