Puerto Ricans in the White House
On Day 1
The First (Puerto Rican) Family
breaks-wave
migrating The White House lawn
sworn back into a Sunday where
drive when they would breeze
down lake shore and how parents
reveal with pomp and stock
the white houses.
On Day 2
Air Force One runways in
San Juan with coqui-on-sole
Air Force 1’s. The passengers
a cabinet of homemade sazón
all applaud the land.
On Day 3
Major negotiations commence
to support a complete secession
from Goya.
On Day 4
We are introduced to the first
First Tio who doubles as a godfather. Making sure
the presidents of future
who double as nieces
stay on the zoom call
until teacher releases.
On Day 5
First Chihuahuas
Cosita and Pepe
were sent home
for noise. much protest
from living bantam
for noise. much protest
they shake nervy
from being close to almighty
yet no way of saving anyone
for noise. much protest
they nervous all over carpet
for noise. much protest.
On Day 6
Let us prepare for independence, demand reparation, appeal to history by securing justice.
On Day 7
like how the ceo of the business
just runs the company
but the company will always be
the company / business as usual
the business of country
is logged in favors
and company is kept as is but
no longer have to wait in line for bad bunny tickets
no longer have to wait for power
no longer have to
Copyright © 2024 by Karl Michael Iglesias. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on August 30, 2024, by the Academy of American Poets.
“Inspired by a Chris Tucker stand-up, this exploration of Puerto Ricans at the forefront of American politics started as comedic. This alternate reality pushes me to face my own relationship to capitalism as it survives within this country, and the reality that the systems in our government will survive all presidents unless we find a way to come together for a radical resurgence as a society.”
—Karl Michael Iglesias