CARMEN
California, 1944
With so many men away at war,
once again, mexicanos are welcomed
to the north as laborers, recruited
by big companies and the US government,
invited to work on farms and in factories,
building airplanes.
They call me Rosita the Riveter,
ignoring
my real name.
I sweat side by side with white and black
women, all of us strong, hardworking, brave.
Just watch us; we’re strong women; we won’t
go back to being silent, not after this.