Breathe

This is my street
I smile at the faces
I’ve known all my life
They regard me with pride
And everyone’s sweet
They say, “You’re going places!’
So how can I say that while I was away
I had so much to hide!

“Hey guys, it’s me!
The biggest disappointment you know.”
The kid couldn’t hack it
She’s back and she’s walkin’ real slow
Welcome home

Just breathe...

Just breathe—

As the radio plays old forgotten boleros
I think of the days when this city was mine
I remember the praise

“Ay, te adoro, te quiero,”
The neighborhood waved, and
Said, “Nina, be brave and
You’re gonna be fine!”
And maybe it’s me
But it all seems like lifetimes ago
So what do I say to these faces that I used to know?
“Hey, I’m home?”

(Mira Nina)

Hey…

(No me preocupo por ella)

They’re not worried about me

(Mira, allí esta nuestra estrella!)

They are all counting on me to succeed

(Ella sí da la talla!)

I am the one who made it out!
The one who always made the grade
But maybe I should have just stayed home…

When I was a child I stayed wide awake
Climbed to the highest place
On every fire escape
Restless to climb

I got every scholarship
Saved every dollar
The first to go to college
How do I tell them why
I’m coming back home?
With my eyes on the horizon

Just me and the GWB, asking, “Gee Nina, what’ll you be?"

Straighten the spine
Smile for the neighbors
Everything’s fine
Everything’s cool
The standard reply:
“Lots of tests, lots of papers.”
Smile, wave goodbye
And pray to the sky, oh, god…
And what will my parents say?

Can I go in there and say

“I know that I’m letting you down…”

(Mira Nina)

Just breathe...