Darmyn Calderon

LAS SUPERSTICIONES DE MI MADRE 


I grew up in Sydney, Australia to loving Ecuadorian parents. Back then, I was unaware that my mother's odd superstitions would come to have a place in my heart after having my children. What I thought then to be embarrassing moments—telling us to keep the black butterflies out of the house or putting fear into us if we had a shower on Good Friday because if we did, we would turn into a fish—I have now come to embrace these actions and come to cherish my mother's protective quirks. This work interprets the memory of those superstitions. 

Con tu amor, your tender fingers rolled an egg across my tiny body, to cleanse me of any cosa mala that may have been lurking within.

Con tu amor, you drove in all directions, many distances away, to make sure that lo malo would never find me.

Con tu amor, you absorbed los espiritus in the bedroom by placing a glass of water on the nightstand.

Con tu amor, you made sure to remind me never sweep over your granddaughter's feet, for she would surely marry un viejo.

Con tu amor, you protected me from el duende by telling me never to wear gold jewelry to bed.

Con tu amor, you told me not to let la mariposa negra in the house. Death was not welcome.

Con tu amor, you told me not to shower on Viernes Santo, because turning into a fish would be a sin.

El Huevo y La Cria

Los Espiritus

LAS SUPERSTICIONES DE MI MADRE 


I grew up in Sydney, Australia to loving Ecuadorian parents. Back then, I was unaware that my mother's odd superstitions would come to have a place in my heart after having my children. What I thought then to be embarrassing moments—telling us to keep the black butterflies out of the house or putting fear into us if we had a shower on Good Friday because if we did, we would turn into a fish—I have now come to embrace these actions and come to cherish my mother's protective quirks. This work interprets the memory of those superstitions. 

Con tu amor, your tender fingers rolled an egg across my tiny body, to cleanse me of any cosa mala that may have been lurking within.

Con tu amor, you drove in all directions, many distances away, to make sure that lo malo would never find me.

Con tu amor, you absorbed los espiritus in the bedroom by placing a glass of water on the nightstand.

Con tu amor, you made sure to remind me never sweep over your granddaughter's feet, for she would surely marry un viejo.

Con tu amor, you protected me from el duende by telling me never to wear gold jewelry to bed.

Con tu amor, you told me not to let la mariposa negra in the house. Death was not welcome.

Con tu amor, you told me not to shower on Viernes Santo, because turning into a fish would be a sin.

El Huevo y La Cria

Los Espiritus

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