On How To by Vanessa Chica Ferreira

On those nights

BIO

Vanessa Chica is a New York City educator, writer and performance poet. She has featured at various events such as The Smokin Word and Drum, The Urban Juke Joint, Capicu, Word@4F, The Nuyorican Poets Café and The Bronx Museum.  She has performed at The National Black Theatre in shows “From The Page To The Stage”, “Misconception”, “Misconception Too” produced in part by The Sunday Writing Circle/ The Full Circle Ensemble. She was a panelist for “Mujeres On The Mic” (2016) and “Dique Dominicana (2018) at The Association Of Writers held in Los Angeles and Tampa.  Vanessa Chica has also co-written a poetic play titled “Live Big Girl”, a poetic play about 3 women and their different and not so different experiences of living in a body that is not celebrated. Vanessa Chica believes there is strength in vulnerability and she is becoming stronger every day. For more information visit VanessaChica.com or LiveBigGirl.com


Social media handles- Instagram: @VanessaChicaWrites  Twitter @PoetryChica

When he calls you with angst in his voice 

The familiar slurs 

When you drop whatever it is that you are doing 

To be greeted by the comfort of his chest 

Remind yourself it’s not special 

 

It is his need of company when drinking alone gets lonely

When he needs a reminder that somebody loves him 

He will hold you close to satisfy the void

Say everything you need to hear 

You will get lost in the moment

 

Remember the role you play

Keep things positive 

Look at him with love; it gets him through the night 

In the morning he will wake up a different person 

You will wake up a little more defeated 

 

When gathering your belongings

Make sure not to leave any feelings behind

Do not become undone 

He will never love you sober

The Acentos Review 2019