You smell like an ocean of hopes
and dreams,
Esperanzas y sueños.
You smell of Santiago,
Each and every tobacco finca.
Each and every Macanudo.
Each and every Romeo y Julieta.
Each and every Havana Honey.
Embrace the cohibi of our Taino ancestors.
Dulce guare. Kachi, karaya, ke'.
You bring out the Dominican in me.
The wide-hipped, wide-eyed morena.
The mango-skin lips.
The sweet bitterness of passion fruit
and pride.
You smell like Salomé Ureña
And Pedro Henriquez
And Fabio Fiallo
And Julia Àlvarez
And Junot Diaz
And each and every poet and storyteller of
our shared origins.
Quisqueyanos valientes!
Write me a poem.
Write me a song.
Tell me a story even if it's a lie.
Dime ya, dime ya, dime ya.
You bring out the Dominican bolero in me.
Read this poem.
I profess my love.
I profess my love.
I profess my love.
You bring out the Dominican in me.
You bring out the lover in me.
You bring out the poet in me.
I profess my love.
I profess my love.
I profess my love.
You bring it out of me.