i lost my therapy license

you told me once that you raised the best listener
que era el unico que sabia escuchar
and so i listened but my heart broke for you
porque no tenias con quien hablar

my heart was stronger before i started listening
and now only tears will mend it
so it’s a good thing i cry every time we talk

se que no hablas de lo que sientes
because your mother didn’t hug you when you cried
pero mama i’m trying

when your mama se fue de este mundo
you didn’t cry why?
i lost my therapy license that day because
i hugged a patient even when you told me not to stay

como te digo que aqui estas segura?
when the silence on the phone
reminds me that we’re worlds away
and so i listen

i listen to the chisme i’ve already heard
but you tell me again because
you can never be too sure
como hablas mujer quebrada

without another breath to give
i feel the pain through the phone
but i never want you to cry alone
asi que soy fuerte por ti

and cry on my own
se que nunca te enseñaron a amar
but it only means que tienes tantos abrazos que dar

Oliver Barrera is a Salvadoran-American senior at Bates. He is originally from Waukegan, IL and has recently started writing his own poetry.