dad is coming home (so she thinks) - m.s. blues

a chunky little girl 

with two trenzas 

smiles 

at dad. 

dad smiles back, 

securing the little girl’s hope, 

while mother reluctantly smiles back – 

(because she has to be happy for her mija 

even though the demonized truth beats her black and blue) – 

‘round 5PM – 

after a day of mirth with dad, 

the little girl was convinced 

she’d be like the rest of the children at school! dad would pick her up after her final class, 

dad would read her bedtime stories, 

dad would attend her baseball games 

strike ‘em out, kiddo! 

– 

back at the barrio, 

life resumes. 

– 

weeks pass 

—no word from dad— 

the little girl figures, 

we just have to see him!

she pesters mother 

the same way the unforgiving bills do, producing tears each time – 

“you just don’t want me to have no dad!” 

the mother is villainized, 

while the absent father is glorified. – 

the cycle persists – 

as the little girl sits, 

waiting for a man 

that never wanted to 

be there in the first place.

Mia Soto | M.S. Blues is one of the most decorated figures in the literary magazine community. At nineteen years old, she currently serves on a few magazine boards and has over 270 publications. She’s the Editor-in-Chief of Cuentos de la Gente and the Founder & Editor-in-Chief of The Infinite Blues Review. In addition to her literary endeavors, she is a college student and a proud employee of the Mental Health field. She currently resides in the Bay Area, California. Her debut book, Collected Works: Poetry & Short Stories can be purchased online through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers—as well as in store at Caspian Books located in Tracy, California.