Hugo J Quizhpi was born and raised in New York City. He served in the US Air Force Reserves, where he received recognition for duties rendered during 9/11 and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His poems are inspired by his experiences in the military and his indigenous Ecuadorian roots. His work has appeared at The Tower Journal, Nagari Magazine, Elohi Gadugi Journal, Underwater NY, Eclectica Magazine, and WLRN Public Radio. Hugo lives in Miami FL.

In Retrospect
By Hugo J Quizhpi

I once sought to elude
the shambles of a wild man’s land,
so I crossed a path
hidden below the horizon.

Once settled, people with a flair
for the ethnic
dabbed and diluted
before planting new roots.

Now, decades later,
I lost indigenous elements
to the affections
of subversive geniuses.

“Surely,” they say, “our stadiums
and boulevards harbor only the best.”