Someone Once Told Me I Walk Down the Hall like Coyolxauhqui Walking into Battle

This poem appears in the PRESENTING feature of the Winter & Spring 2026 issue of Poetry Northwest.

I
took it
as a compliment.
Cuauhtémoc chattering
in my constant, chachayotes
men’s teeth traqueteó at my ankles
almost sliced my right breast off —}> for better aim

pero cada teta Rain overtan preciosa,

I
could never

asked to rub a limpia egg around

each areola,Rain overoveroverfelt the word
sacar

each unwanted Rainohand overoverovergrip & slap

manos al masa Rain overmoving a body

of nixtamalized corn es ceremonia

& these unholy palms thick

in cum

the way my chest requested a warrant for paz, placer sin sacrificio
I ask a man to suck my mammaries, feel
mama & maguey

Si soy pulque

Si
soy
placer

& if you reach rancid towards my life givers,
chichis grow glochids
in place of
NO