Esperanza, that is who I wish I was

Esperanza, the one who refused to grow up

Esperanza, the one who I had abandoned

Now as we are older, she has gone away

Whereas I have stayed

She has flourished

Whereas I have diminished

Now with three kids I sit at home alone

For my husband has left

I try my best, but it’s not enough

I was not strong enough to escape Mango

She has kept me here forever

At home I sit alone

He didn’t even leave a letter

I heard Esperanza is a writer

Living out her dream in another place

away from Mango, away from people like us, away from her race

One day I will escape

I’ll take my children with me and make a new life

But for now I must stay

And live out my days

Esperanza, the one I made fun of

Esperanza, the one no one understood

Esperanza, the one who truly won