Joey+Fourth+Wall

** 2001 Kevin Bubriski gelatin silver print 20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 61.0 cm) Smithsonian American Art Museum
 * World Trade Series, New York

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Old Maids by Sandra Cisneros

My cousins and I, we don't marry. We're too old by Mexican standards.

And the relatives have long suspected we can't anymore in white.

My cousins and I, we're all old maids at thirty.

Who won't dress children, and never saints-- though we undress them.

The aunts, they've given up on us. No longer nudge--You're next.

Instead-- What happened in your childhood? What left you all mean teens? Who hurt you, honey?

But we've studied marriages too long--

Aunt Ariadne, Tia Vashti, Comadre Penelope, querida Malintzin, Senora Pumpkin Shell--

lessons that served us well.