Paulina Vieitez is a Mexican writer and cultural promoter as well as a communications professional, currently enrolled in the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies program at Rice University. This is her first time writing poetry in English. Her ongoing collection titled “Taxonomy of the Soul” is the result of her work in the MIS program, which included diverse courses such as Social Justice, Literature in Fairy Tales, and Conserving Biodiversity.
Frederick Luis Aldama excellence in creative writing Award
The Superpower of the Red Hood
Paulina Vieitez, Rice University
My grandma
being the little girl
in her red hood,
cooking and then
eating the wolf
No bed, no nudes
just a fearless knife
a stove, a table
and a banquet,
wine and cake
My mother
Snow White
a hood, a red one
birds singing,
dwarves too
No prince, no vanity
a witch, a mirror
an apple pie just baked,
she took her hood
and got into the palace
The witch succumbed
to the temptation
of such a flavor
and ate it all at once,
broken mirror
she passed
Wolfskin coat
I wear, red in blood
of the predator
who intended to
abuse
Walk into the forest
of this violent era
sure about
what to do
My lineage
well has taught me
I am Supergirl,
Hard Candy
maybe too
My aunt,
Red Hot Riding Hood
she is bold,
and cool
We are not afraid
no tremor
in our voices
just a hood
The superpower
is being just us
The sisters
of the Red Hood