"I come from"

artistic statement

Sometimes for an immigrant, it can get really hard to be in the country because of the different problems that come with it. Having to worry about school, having to worry about migration, and in my case also having to worry about working so I can provide money to my family. For this poem, I wanted to express how much I miss my country and what I miss the most about it. Knowing I will not be able to go back for a long time, creating these poems just makes me feel better because I still have in mind what I enjoyed the most in my 15 years being there in El Salvador.

Josue Rivera

Josue Oswaldo Rivera Abrego was born and raised in El Salvador, he migrated to the United States in 2015. He is a student who is majoring in Kinesiology. His poetry is inspired by the different experiences and struggles that he had while trying to adapt to the United States.

I come from a little country that is full of history.

I come from a place where you play with piscuchas and drink coca cola out of a plastic bag.

I come from a neighborhood where everyone knows each other and their favorite hobby is to relax en la hamaca.

A place where eating pupusas with horchata es mejor que cualquier plato gourmet.

A childhood marked with raspaduras en mis rodillas.

With a plastic bottle y cuatro rocas para jugar fútbol.

With the excitement of oliendo el océano en un viaje familiar.

A place where violence is as common as yendo a El Súper a comprar comida.

Y un lugar con las mejores memorias de los que nunca volveré a ver.  ​