For the kitchen and the fluorescent lighting

A collection of stainless steel pans were rocking gracefully, 

like how Mama diced the onion and peppers on the cutting board for the day.

It smells like food about to be ready looking at the bright colorful vegetables. 

That was the day, Mama told me to go get the ingredients to make dinner 

You know it’s a hot day in Harlem,

Where you see the icee lady on the cart selling to the young kids.

Across the street was my local supermarket, 

I got items where I was sent for bread, chicken and platanos

whatever was needed from the grocery store and the chocolate I left behind. 

I wonder where my neighbors went for vacation since we were so loud.

Maybe we took them to Puerto Rico with our music in the background.

I get too carried away when I’m in my happy place.
Mama, help me forget about this reality and make your kitchen be sacred for me
All the memories of learning how to cook these recipes with Mama 

made me laugh about the littlest mistakes I had made.

Like the time, I spilled the entire container of Spanish Paprika on the tomato sauce 

It was a kitchen crime scene with all the red mess scattered everywhere. 

To that one time I accidentally tripped and dropped food on the floor.

Another kitchen crime scene but we don’t talk about that. 

I’m pretty clumsy but deep down inside, 

From tasting arroz con leche and papa rellena to the tip of my tongue 

The aroma of the spices makes me fall in love with the trail it left behind.

When I’m cooking:

It’s somewhat an intense heart-pounding sensation turning on the fire because it’s dangerous but it feels like the world is moving faster by the second.  

From waking up in the morning, my feet would be racing to get out of bed.

I would be rushing to be in my happy place. 

The kitchen has become one of my priorities for me.

It’s my space in which I have control of.

It feels like a dream like the feeling of the sunset shining on your face. 

I’m genuinely happy when you get that feeling when your mom says she loves you. 

It’s my bubble that no one can burst.

I go to bed thinking about the next day cooking in my happy place with mama