She places her hand on the lens, snapping it into the camera. 

Looking through it, she wishes her eyes could become lenses. 

Rotating that fragile piece of glass, she can now see her reflection. 

She mutters under her voice, "Please see me."

She places the camera down and sighs, 

Tired not from working but from waiting for money to rain from the sky. 

For the gods to hear her. 

Once again waiting for the phone to ring, the email to come, 

For all the pots to finally finish cooking, waiting for her turn to eat, 

To be told "Yes," the red stoplight has turned to a green-light. 

Ready to say, "Roll sound, roll camera--Action!" 

Always ready, yet so tired from always being overlooked. 

Never complaining, standing tall, forging forward, 

Believing, fighting for that dream. 

Yet once again, overlooked. 

Don’t give up, just do it, go for it! It will happen. 

Hoping, yet once again overlooked. 

She picks up the camera, takes off the lens, sits down like a good girl. 

"Wait your turn, don’t be loud, be seen not heard." 

Taking all the underestimation, marginalization, 

Every dragon, hate, sorrow, pain, 

And making the anger into a beautiful power of creation, 

That only helps make her stronger. 

With more energy, she places a new clear lens on the camera, 

Slings that camera over her shoulder, holding the weight of her world. 

She walks to the mirror and snaps a picture of herself,

Looks at it, finally being seen by the real judge, 

The real eyes that have ever really mattered. 

Realizing she is no longer overlooked, 

And no longer waiting to be seen. 

~ Julie Rubio