Helena Zamudio

‘cause cuz told me u liked it,
playin’ in the dirt          

w/ no shoes
but leavin’ ain't the worst thing you did


squeeze tits, ‘til buttons pop, ‘til you make like soda pop and
squeeze pimples, let the pus fizz.    u killin’ your     self
‘cause cuz told me u liked it

u let the fuzz piss you off, got buzzed on shots of praise on the rocks
and high on          

expectations. you wanted _____ / something new,
but leavin’ ain’t the worst thing you did

emanuel’s fucked up again, says its ‘cause of u
but you don’t pick up the phone, beatin’ urself to shit
‘cause cuz told me you liked it

mama left / you a pot of menudo on the stove,
you left / kickin up dust like u had nothin’ to lose
but leavin’ ain’t the worst thing you did

you say u regret packin’ ur body up / donning coffins like suitcases
left a ______ in my bones, marrowed them with cough syrup
‘cause cuz told me u liked it

i memorized ur voicemail, mouthed ur words into          

the speaker.
i left / ur shoes in a grave for when u come home,
but leavin’ ain’t the worst thing you did

didja think of the barrio? when’d you start treatin’ us like taboos.
forget ‘bout home.          

forget ‘bout takin’ me w/ you?
but cuz told me he liked it
and leavins the best thing you ever did

Helena Zamudio

Helena Zamudio

Poetry

Fall 2024 - Land

the playground collective