Leela Navarro

Leela Navarro

Author of The Molasses Cure · a memoir in fragments
Touch the pieces. They warm up when you look at them. Move them if you want. Memory doesn't mind.
a blessing, 1984
1984

Trauma is a bad archivist. It kept the wrong things in perfect condition and lost whole years.

August 1984
in the matter of
in front of the altar
the living room
december
the tiny musician
sound check

He was sweet to me. That's the whole con.

Los Angeles, 1988
Ohm, the sound of the universe
1987
provisions
in her own hand
bedtime, allegedly

The one unforgivable thing was ruining the photo.

the family portrait
picture day
dressed for the picture
preschool, already posing
the pose came standard
the happiest place on earth
Charlotte's Christmas, 1992 · click to read
a very good bear
the diary
January 13
Life, a definition

There is no diet for bone.

the headshot years
the bleach years
the yearbook

A solved problem can't need you anymore.

the chihuahuas
no audition, no invoice

You just loved me longer.

what the house kept
last light
the babies

I still sleep in a fighting position. But now I'm being held.

my reason
third time
wishing

Hugging him is like touching grass.

where I wanted to stay
a living room kid lives here