being a non-believer and Chicano

means attending service in case of
emergency weddings, quinceñeras
and baptisms.
It means watching everyone cross
themselves in the name of

……….the father
holy……and…….spirit
…………..son

and holding back
my hands
nature
my sister’s wishes,
mom’s.

It means curanderos,
their power derived from dios,
do not exist.

It means promesas,
in the name of god,
are meaningless.

for a non-believer
la Virgin de Guadalupe
will never appear

palm sunday
ash wednesday
good friday