Kimberly Vargas Agnese

Mixed Blood

Sun ripples over Easter’s hair

long after

her great great grandmother’s footsteps

are plucked

from Africa’s mangroves

and stuck

like a pair of wild oysters

near the Oconaluftee River.

No use brushing maize off stolen finger tips.

Color sticks like the sound of grand father flutes in grand mother ears,

steam rises

above swamp milk weed and Yellow Lady’s Slippers

around an old nest in a Sweet gum tree

where mourning doves coo to one another,

lay eggs.

Outside her homestead

bare toes tap mixed blood jigs.

After da is done trading furs

he will come home

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Published by Kimberly Vargas Agnese

My name is Kimberly Vargas Agnese, though I've previously written as Kae Bucher. I was born in the Florida Keys, but grew up in the Bay Area before migrating south to the San Joaquin Valley. As I ride barefoot around Fresno, I consider the paths I've chosen and the crossroads where our country seems to have perched itself. Thanks to my Romani ancestry, many people groups reside within me and my poetry tends to reflect this. I love welcoming the sunrise with my Native American flute. I've been rumored to juggle while teaching students how to write. And if you can't find me, I'm probably hanging out with Jesus listening to parables.

13 comments

    • Thank u so much John… the picture is not mine… but… one of my grandfathers talked about being Cherokee.. but no one took him seriously … recently I did DNA testing on several sites and turns out Granpas stories weren’t just stories .. a lot more Native American ancestory showed up than I expected … looks like grandpa was at least half… so I have been praying and thinking a lot about what this means … why was this practically hidden and not rejoiced over etc etc…finding out on his side … I am mixed… thanks for reblog 🙂

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  2. This is so tender and touching…Amazing about uncovering Native American roots and the rediscovery of the beauty of this culture I have been noticed from several writers now! I used to live in America, growing up, and that aspect of the culture and history has always stayed with me. Thank you for sharing!

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    • Hello! What a fun surprise to see your comments:) Thank you for commenting. Since posting this I have discovered that although I did find my grandfather’s brother on the Dawes, I also discovered that the majority of my Native DNA results turned out to be Mayan, Chichimec… The surprising amount of Native in my results caused me to ask questions, upon which the true heritage of my biological father was revealed. Crazy stuff, but turns out my biological father was a first generation Mexican/ Native who gave me ancestry from several west coast tribes on the continent, the strongest being Mayan and Chichimec. Might I ask where you live now?

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    • Lol and since replying to your comment I have learned that your blog is strikingly similar to my daughter’s calling on Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase:) So much respect… 🙂
      Thank you for the Birthday wish:) Stephanie is very excited about the purpose of your blog and the truth in your posts.

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      • Yes, I was so delighted to land upon your daughter’s blog and have just subscribed via email now! Wow, I am really impressed with it, and her about page with value and review methods is an inspiration.
        Thank you both for all your kind words!!! It really means so much. I’m excited to read more of yours and Stephanie’s work as well 😀
        Shalom!

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      • Oh my 🙂 I am very happy to have found a blogging twin 😉 ❤ It's cool to see the different expressions of the same mission! 🙂
        Have a lovely evening both of you ❤

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