Borrowed Saints

By Windy Martinez

Issue 53 • Spring 2026 • Poetry

This poem won third place in the Spring 2026 Contest Issue judged by Hakim Bellamy, who wrote: “As an unapologetically proud slam poet, I confess to my love of the deft one-liner (or ‘one stanza’ as it oftentimes presents on the page). Martinez deploys an impressive arsenal these in this anthropomorphic persona poem. The real genius in the piece, however, is overarching concept of the poem. Sure, veladoras are already somewhat of a metaphor unto themselves. But the decision to have a velas narrate an allegory about the shame that comes with the patron saint’s inability to deliver on our prayers … is both magical realism and a chef’s kiss.”

i sit behind the bodega counter,

breath trapped in wax and flicker,

watch old men tap pockets

for lotto dreams and loose-change faith.

they light me when the landlord knocks too hard,

when the roaches dance too bold,

when rent slides like a knife under the door.

i swallow prayers like chiclets-

sweet for a second,

gone before dawn.

abuela calls my name over simmering beans,

tells the kids hush, hush, he listening,

like i’m a holy wire

tapped straight into god’s ear.

i ain’t no miracle, mija.

i’m borrowed light,

a warm lie

keeping the dark outside.

i hear gossip slip under mattresses,

baby jesus under titi carmen’s springs,

rats chewing faith at the corners.

cigar smoke floats up-

promise in every puff,

sin curled soft in the ashtray.

still, i burn.

still, i stand watch

over scratched lotto slips,

over prayers paid in quarters,

over soft curses

when the numbers don’t hit.

i ain’t no savior.

Windy Martinez

Windy Martinez is a Harlem-born poet whose work is rooted in memory, faith, family, and the layered music of city life. Her poetry blends lyric intensity with narrative grit and cultural specificity to explore survival, longing, and identity. Her work is forthcoming in Wingless Dreamer’s Fire in the Lines anthology and appears in Poets Choice’s Everything Unprecedented. She is currently pursuing a BA in Creative Writing and English at Southern New Hampshire University.

Lawrence Bridges

Lawrence Bridges is best known for his work in the film and literary world. His photographs have been exhibited at the Las Laguna Art Gallery, the London Photo Festival, the ENSO Gallery in Malibu, and were featured in the Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery in November 2025. He created a series of literary documentaries for the National Endowment for the Arts “Big Read” initiative, which includes profiles of Ray Bradbury, Amy Tan, Tobias Wolff, and Cynthia Ozick. He lives in Los Angeles. You can find him on IG: @larrybridges