The Land Knows Us By Name
By Christiana Castillo
Knows me
The seeds in my throat
How my bis bis bis abuela planted maíz in Jalisco
How my abuela planted maíz
Created space for pollinated golden tassels
To reach towards the sky
Next to clouds of smoke in Detroit
The land remembers their names
Knows every shape of their body
All their curves, the scars,
self-proclaimed beauty marks
Even in decomposition
The land remembers
Knows the seeds I keep in my throat
The maíz I plant on Anishinaabe land
And the seeds I always save
Knows how I dream of seeds
Covered in dirt
So I know my lineage is
Seeds covered in dirt
Christiana Castillo (she/ella) is a Mexican-Brasilian-American poet, educator, and gardener.
