By Santiago Márquez Ramos
A Place Without Wind I placed my hopes in a sailing ship. A blooming of flowers showered by the sun. Nursed by the creatures of the ocean. Carried by the wind. I am from the land of warmth and character. Where the harvest flows green. Where the sky paints itself red. Where the trees whisper my family’s name. Yet the well dried up and the birds fled. So the people bowed before the king and asked for guidance. The king bowed before God and asked for forgiveness. God whispered back but it was too faint. And the rivers cried in their sleep. And the mountains trembled and moaned. And the people looked down at the dust of their feet. And my hopes sailed away, alone.
Santiago Márquez Ramos is a therapist working with Latinx immigrants in New York City. Originally from Mexico, he’s passionate about weaving culture, mental health, queerness, and social justice into all his stories; as well as Spanish, his native language. He’s been published in Litro Magazine USA, Occulum Journal, and Literally Stories. He’s been rejected by many others, but sometimes nicely. He graduated from Taos Toolbox 2023, where he was awarded George R. R. Martin’s 2023 Terran Prize. He was also a speaker at TEDxBU! You can find Santiago’s work and ADHD-fueled thoughts at www.santiagomarquezramos.com.