Introducing Maria L. Leyba

Maria L. Leyba is a native New Mexican who still resides in her childhood home. She lives in the barrio of Barelas. Family & her barrio are the inspiration for her poetry & literary works. She has been published in several anthologies, written several chapbooks & hosted many poetry venues.

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Poems...

He Forgot We Were Children

Snap in the Twilight

40 Peace Doves

I dreamt of 40 peace doves

growing out of my brother's hands

a poor barrio boy

whose fingers glowed with peace

a human bird feeder

soothing collecting humanity's despair

breathing hope of salvation

into lives of our gente

I wake up to a symphony of birds

my mind glows with sweet memories

of my brother's borrowed peace

a boy who lost his life in Viet Nam

today on the eve of my birthday

my world is blooming with

his peace / hope.

I Don't Speak English

His barrel chest collapsed

holding his once

radiant hopeful heart

he the young warrior

returning from World War II

his hands still burning

from holding her tiny waist

twirling around the dance hall

in a dusty border town.

War buddies called him, "Chief"

now he was weak / his knees buckled

staring into her blue eyes

sparkling like stars

dreaming of waking up every day

stroking her soft blond curls

he wooed her with his best English

hoping it didn't sound too broken

when the final dance was over

nervously she told him

"Perdon, pero no hablo ingles."

I don't speak English

he didn't know she had

already fallen in love

with his jet black eyes / his

velvet bronze skin

dreaming of the brown children

she had always wanted.