What She Saw in the Lotería Cards–a book of poems
What She Saw in the Lotería Cards, published by Bottlecap Press, is a collection that can be understood as a cartography of identity—mapping emotional, cultural, familial, and bodily terrains. The use of Lotería cards is more than decorative—it offers a mythopoetic framework that grounds intimate, raw stories in universal symbols.
It is my attempt to unite the mythic with the mundane, the intimate with the political, the tragic with the tender. The collection explores the interwoven themes of heritage, desire, domestic ritual, and spiritual metamorphosis.
Structured in four distinct sections—The Inheritance, Desire and Distance, The Seeker, and The Surrender—this collection maps the complex terrain of feminine experience grounded in cultural specificity and mythic resonance.
These poems are inspired by Lotería iconography and my Mexican and Southern Gothic identity, blending confessional intimacy with symbolic structure.
to purchase a copy visit Bottlecap Press here
What She Saw in the Lotería on New Pages blog
La Bandera : Woven Unity
Haiku
An image of strength,
unity among people-
waving in the wind.
-A. Badajos
El Soldado
Boots in the dust,
eyes too old for his face.
He left as a boy—
returned with silence
where laughter used to live.
— J. Ochoa
El Catrin
Dapper in my dreams,
a gentleman of the night,
whispers of the past.
El Arbol:
sunset fireflies,
distant voices, soft grass —
i miss you sometimes.
-C. Gabriel-Luis
El Arbol:
sunset fireflies,
distant voices, silken grass —
i miss you sometimes.
-C. Gabriel-Luis
When I see the El Gallo card I instantly think of my grandpa who passed away when I was just a baby. When shown this card I get a rush of the memories and stories about him and his roosters.
M. Cardenas
When I see La Luna, I remember: “Luna lunera, cascabelera, ojos azules, y la boca morena.” It takes me back to childhood, moving often, watching the moon through the window. No matter where we went, the moon was always there.
– N. Navarro
La Luna
Soft silver lantern,
guiding dreams through quiet skies,
secrets bathe in light.
La Rosa:
Red bloom, love’s sweet sign,
Blue sky holds it’s gentle grace,
Rosa in full bloom
– J. Plaza
El Borracho: When I think of this card I associate it with a memory of me being in Mexico when I was younger. I was a memory of me playing this game with all of my relatives.
-L. Moya
La Luna:
When she first passed, I used to look up at the moon and believe my grandma was watching out for me. I would look up and feel like she was protecting me, and that she was still with me.
-J. Custodio
La Estrella
Shines under the dimly lit night
Whispers promises into the dark
Remains eternal as the nightly guide
– S. Guido
El Sol : The Sun
The long summer days
All slip away like sunscreen
Always gone too soon
– A. Schmidt
La Rosa:
Red bloom, love’s sweet sign,
Blue sky holds its gentle grace,
Rosa in full bloom
– J. Plaza
La Estrella:
The star reminds me of all those nights with my family, looking up at the night sky. Those peaceful moments together, watching the stars, and bring back memories. Times in which I will always cherish.
C. Flores
La Luna:
But after sunny days,
One thing stays the same,
rises the moon.
R. Corona
La Sirena:
She swam on my notebook covers in middle school.
A mystery with red lips, Trapped between water and sky.
I didn’t Know whether to fear her or follow her.