Piñata

‘Arsenal Piñata’ © Yolanda Hernandez. 2018. Paper Sculpture.

I love piñatas as they remind me of my childhood. I make them for the children and the friends around me for their birthdays. The boxes are adorned with their favourite figurines and treats. Piñatas are my little slice of Mexico. They make me happy and I hope to bring smiles to the people around me on their special day.

Ode to Pinatas

It was my religion to cross of each number on my calendar,

Waiting for the moon to pray with the sun before bedtime while I said my Hail Mary’s,

Counting down the days the Earth would make a full cycle around the sun,

This meant I would be one year closer to being ten or a teenager or a real life grownup,

This day was magical like a rainbow after the rain,

Or like my Dad picking me up early from school,

I made sure to have my outfit picked out the day before,

Imagining who would make it to the party before falling asleep,

This day meant it was my birthday and I could cry if I want to,

The day full of laughter and ”you look like a monkey and smell like one too’’,

Hoping no one would push me into the cake while mom made me take a bite,

The best part was being the first one to whack the festive piñata,

Being blind folded and being turned around like La Pirinola,

Holding on to the broomstick and hearing the crowd cheer me on,

Praying I would break the brightly covered paper tissue box,

While all the children scattered around waiting to make a dash for the treats,

And being torn because ”Ya le diste uno,

Ya le diste dos,

Ya le diste tres,

Y tu tiempo se acabó”,

But smiling I would be that night for my brown paper bag was filled with sweets.