vaporub is pronounced vah-po-ROO. like loud or CHEW. the label for vaporub says it’s for cough suppression, but in my house, vaporub is for headaches, sore muscles, nightmares, & everything else. put some vaporub on my dad’s diabetic toes & watch the sugar evaporate. miss a day of church? put some vaporub on your forehead & watch forgiveness flush your cheeks. put some vaporub on our bank account and watch the bill collectors stop calling. when i forget a word in Spanish? take a teaspoon of vaporub under the tongue.
Poem from Citizen Illegal by José Olivarez