Melissa Lozada Oliva Poems: Exploring Identity, Love, and Resistance

Melissa Lozada Oliva is a renowned poet known for her powerful and emotional pieces that delve into themes of identity, love, and resistance. Her poems are often raw and unfiltered, touching on personal experiences and societal issues with honesty and vulnerability. Through her words, Melissa gives voice to the marginalized, shining a light on the struggles and triumphs of those often overlooked or silenced.

Identity

One of the central themes in Melissa Lozada Oliva's poems is identity. She explores what it means to be a woman, a Latina, and a member of the LGBTQ+ community in a world that is often hostile to those who exist outside of societal norms. In her poem "Like Totally Whatever," Melissa navigates the complexities of language and labels, questioning the boxes that society tries to fit her into:

"I know it's spicy like Latina but I just can't walk on floor tiles that say 'your ancestors died for this.'"

Through her words, she challenges stereotypes and celebrates the richness and diversity of her heritage and experiences.

Like Totally Whatever

Like totally whatever
I just can't bring myself
to eat dinuguan.
No matter how my Tita begs,
no matter how it coos
like a pig making sure
I can't hear her die,
I know it's dark
like Filipina but I just
can't eat blood that
feels like a metaphor
for our history.
I know it's spicy
like Latina but I just can't
walk on floor tiles that say
'your ancestors died for this.'
My shoes won't even let me
to look an Aguinaldo stare
in the eye.
Like whoever did the cooking
filipina relatives take it
out on me with their tongues:
I was born in a country that's
just like America but I swear
where the sun gives me kisses
I'm Spanish I'm Cuban I'm Dominican
Dominican means Latino means my hair
is tamed by hands that are
good with knives.
[...]
And when it comes to badditude
they couldn't even pretend they
got it from me.
And when it comes to badditude
I could only fake with pen and paper.
I could only makes charts that crossed off
those things my aunts pretended
I did in the dark—things
they had to learn to follow
Southern Exposure's Ethnic Notions Workshop.
But I don't have to.
I don't have to spell my last name
in dictionaries.
No I am not a bandwagon poet,
trust me, my OBG says
I don't do crowds.

Love

Love is another recurring theme in Melissa's poetry. She writes about love in all its forms - romantic, platonic, self-love - with a tenderness and honesty that is truly moving. In "The Wild Women Collective," Melissa celebrates the bond between women, the strength that comes from sisterhood, and the power of standing together in solidarity:

"We are wild women, and we are at our wildest when we love each other. When we lift each other up and hold each other close. When we refuse to be tamed by a world that seeks to break us."

Through her poetry, Melissa reminds us of the importance of love in a world that often feels harsh and unforgiving.

The Wild Women Collective

We are wild women,
and we are at our wildest
when we love each other.
When we lift each other up
and hold each other close.
When we refuse to be tamed
by a world that seeks to break us.

We are the daughters of
warriors and witches,
the ones who carry the fire
of our ancestors in our souls.
We are fierce and fearless,
unafraid to speak our truths
and stand up for what we believe in.

Together, we are a force
to be reckoned with,
unstoppable in our unity.
We are wild women,
and the world better
beware when we come
together in love and solidarity.

Resistance

In addition to exploring themes of identity and love, Melissa Lozada Oliva's poems also often touch on resistance. She writes about the need to fight against injustice, to speak out against oppression, and to stand up for what is right. In "Brown Girl Does," Melissa challenges stereotypes and empowers herself and others to resist societal expectations and limitations:

"Brown girl does not need your validation. She knows who she is, and she is unapologetically herself. She will not be silenced or erased. She will rise up and resist."

Through her poetry, Melissa inspires others to join her in the fight for justice and equality.

Brown Girl Does

Brown girl does not need your approval
she knows who she is
and she is unapologetically herself
she speaks her mind
she stands her ground
she refuses to be silenced
or erased

Brown girl does not need your validation
she knows her worth
and she won't let anyone
diminish it
with their ignorance
and hate

Brown girl does not need your permission
to exist
to take up space
to be heard
she will rise up
and resist
because she knows
that she is powerful
and she will not be
held back

Melissa Lozada Oliva's poems are a powerful testament to the strength, resilience, and beauty of those who exist on the margins of society. Through her words, she challenges stereotypes, celebrates love, and inspires resistance. Her poetry is a call to action, a reminder that we all have a voice and a story worth telling. Melissa's work is a beacon of hope in a world that often feels dark and divided, reminding us that through love, unity, and resistance, we can create a better and more just world for all.