Mami ensures that the kitchen always has a

pot of frijoles.

Mami says that when there’s nothing else to

eat, “hay frijoles en la cocina.”

Mami doesn’t care if it’s 80 degrees outside,

she’ll always enjoy making a pot of frijoles.

The house always awakens when Mami

cooks a pot of frijoles.

The damp air reminds us of the summer

days in the coldest winters or how much we

miss winter during the hottest days of summer.

The water bubbling dances in our ears.

The clinking Mami makes with her spoon

against the edge of the pot rings in my ears.

Mami always adds three garlic cloves to

add a rich taste to the frijoles.

Mami reminds me every thirty minutes to

check on the pot in case it needs water to

be added, and when I fail to do such a simple task

Mami will yell “Los frijoles!”

Mami always knows that you can make

many dishes with frijoles,

that’s why Mami says that when there’s

nothing else to eat, “hay frijoles en la cocina.”