Seventh Day of September

I was born on the seventh day of September

Seven minutes after mi gemela Mariafernanda

Llorando con todo pulmón in El Paso, Tejas

Nine days before el dia de la Independencia Mexicana

I was born on the seventh day of September

Mi mama was the only one residing on the north side of el rio grande

And my tita was not going to let her angelitos forget their roots

–Not on her watch

I was born on the seventh day of September

And little did we know my tita would turn our birthdays into Mexican-themed block parties

Every year, she shifted focus to a different region of Mexico to celebrate all aspects of it

The dress code and attire would change from Mariachi to Chinas Poblanas

I was born on the seventh day of September

Don Pancho, el de las tripitas, arrived at six

Doña Zoco, la de las gorditas y flautas, arrived at six thirty

Don Bucho, el del pan dulce, arrived shortly after

I was born on the seventh day of September

Ready to learn about our ancestors and traditions and histories

My tita would enroll us in Folklorico dance classes the weeks leading up to the party

Only to find out we would join the university’s Folklorico dancers for a halftime performance

I was born on the seventh day of September

Mi tia Minerva arrived at seven with two bottles of red wine

Mi tio Fernando arrived at eight with his friends ready to continue la pachanga

Mi abue Juanita sat at the head table eyeing everyone that arrived late

I was born on the seventh day of September

On the seventh day no one rested, we celebrated

We celebrated el dia de la Independencia Mexicana nine days early

And the whole block would join