‘Everything Flies Away’ by Anastasia Fajardo

This piece was part of the Ánimo Voices Competition, which invited students to write about innovators, upstanders, visionaries, or rebels that have made a difference in their local or broader communities. The competition was an opportunity to motivate, recognize, and celebrate our strong student voices through writing and art.

Everything Flies Away

by Anastasia Fajardo, 10th grade, Oscar De La Hoya Ánimo Charter High School

Frida Kahlo is my name proud to say,
Born in Mexico where everything is fresco.

Raised in La Casa Azul – a place I call home,
Proud of my roots since my youth.

They ask girl or boy? Well, I say both,
They say cloy, and I’m just annoyed.

Contracted polio, which is part of my portfolio.

Started to paint myself to feel less lonely,
Made flamboyant art for mi gente tan extravagante,
Now people remember me in my art.

Had realistic art but they all needed fantasy,
To let people know that fantasy can become real.

Magia le agregue a mi arte para olvidar la realidad,
So my people would know that mi magia es para sentirse mejor.

Being the wounded deer is what I found in me,
The stag is a flag of my hopeless tries,
This never meant that I would give up.

“Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?”

I left my people inspiration to never give up.

In every piece, I left a note to men,
Telling them women are not any type of object,
I also left a little note to women,
Telling them that they all are worth more than what they think.

I left this world too young but left a piece of me,
Those who need love,
Hope, faith, someone to relate.

I made this for you and know that,
Nothing is absolute, everything changes , everything moves on , everything flies away.