By Charlotte Pruett
abuela i called to her. the woman treading on dirt, the woman herding cattle, and harvesting soy. the woman with matted curls like mine. the woman who built her home, stone by stone, with bronzed hands. the woman i knew. she turned to me and, with haggard eyes and a face like mine, called back in a language i don't speak. le llamé a ella. la mujer que viene pisando fuerte, la que arrea el ganado, y cosecha la palma. la mujer con rizos enmarañados como los míos. la mujer que construyó su casa, piedra por piedra, con las manos negras del sol. la mujer que conocí. se volvió hacia mí y, con ojos trasnochados y una cara como la mía, me devolvió la llamada en el idioma que aprendí para ella.
Charlotte Pruett is an ad creative, writer, and award-winning journalist. Originally from the United States’ east coast, Charlotte graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Journalism and now works in advertising in Australia. Much of her poetry explores expatriation, mental health, social justice and romantic relationships.