This poem is part of a special presentation of The Poetry of Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. If you are interested in seeing the entire collection of poetry submitted by this organization, click here.

Love Letter 

Dear Erica,

See, I had to write you this love letter

Because at the time I knew that

Speaking to you, in the moment

Would not have been the most

Effective way for me to share my point-of-view

See as I sat at my desk and listened
to you

Discuss Chris Brown’s recent arrest

For assaulting Rihanna my heart

Began to pace uncontrollably

“She probably came out her face,”
you said

“She pushed him to the limit,”
you said

“Some girls get hit,” you said

And as you giggled and laughed

I knew that a move on my part

Could have only resulted in

Me coming out of my skin and

Be forced to break on you

I sat back as your friends joined in

“Well guys beat on girls and girls
beat on guys,” they said

“That’s just how it is today,”
they said

“I know if a guy hits me, I’m hittin’
him back,” she said

“Uh, I don’t hit girls… but if
she come out her face,” he said

I knew that a move on my part

Could have only resulted in

Me coming out of my skin and

Be forced to break on you

I listened as your teacher tried to
convey

to you another view

“you old school miss,” you said

“things ain’t like that no more,”
you said

“I know a girl that doesn’t come
to school

     when she gets
hit,” you said

I knew that a move on my part

Could have only resulted in

Me coming out of my skin and

Be forced to break on you

So I took a step forward

And I took a step back

As visions of blackened and bloody
faces

Memories of hiding in closets, hands
covering ears

Swirled inside my mind

I realized that I love you

I realized I had to love you

And confront the violence that you

Have grown so comfortable with

So I write you this letter, not in
anger

But in love

Because our sisters need to be loved

And our brothers need to be loved

And our children must be taught

That violence will no longer be spelled

L-O-V-E