BIO
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the mainland United States, Tatiana Figueroa Ramirez graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and is a VONA Voices Alumna, having worked with award-winning poets Willie Perdomo and Danez Smith. She currently performs spoken-word in the greater Washington D.C. area, but has also shared her work in other parts of the United States and the Dominican Republic. Tatiana's poetry has been published in Public Pool, Spillwords, A Gypsy’s Library, and Here Comes Everyone: East & West Issue among others.
It was not long ago
I walked on La Guancha, watching
sail ships turn black in the sunset.
A pastel sky Bob Ross would love mixed
with cool, breezy kisses on my shoulders.
I evaded loose, cracked planks, listening
to Jerry Rivera bounce through open-air bars.
I stared into Hector Lavoe’s bronze eyes one last time.
It was not long ago
I hiked through El Yunque, hearing
its pulse in hidden birds & coqui singing
signature melodies. Lullabies Boricuas dream of.
I felt the cold embrace of the sweet rivers engraving
their names into mountains & valleys.
I baptized under waterfalls that haven’t stopped crying.
It was not long ago
I sought sanctuary in Sabana Grande, hiding
under the veil of La Virgen del Pozo.
A warmth, we, Sabaneños are grateful for.
In the town that saw
my first steps, I savored café con leche
in heat with loved ones who said
“Stay a little longer.”
It was not long ago…
rivers kept their course
bridges didn’t crumble
dams wouldn’t crack
forests couldn’t be crushed
rain would concede
my family could be heard
It was not long ago
my home was alive.