poetry

Country wedding in
Hills
People coming from church
in Mexico City
Arriving in a bus as dark as deep depths
No gifts
Bride and groom serving
"Mole" made by mother
Worked all night
Music
New guests
Join in dancing
As uninvited as scare crows
And as welcomed as the sun



First bank
"No," says the banker

Second bank
Marble floors
Mahogany desks
Smell of perfume
Clerks looking like television "novela" actresses
Lines of customers
"We don't cash these traveler's checks."
"How will I pay my rent"?
"You can go next door,"
says banker ignoring tears in customer's face



School Scene

A college campus
Clusters of students out in the sun
Talk talking
Books and notebooks in their bags
Steps like a pyramid
Leading
up from the
jungle wilds below of
cactus plants and drooping
trees with leaves withered by acid rain
Cold school buildings and rooms
Warm sun
Flowers outside
Concrete slabs to sit on
Students speaking in Spanish
One says,
"Let's stick it to her,"
New but with graying hair
the American feels cold around her heart.
Understanding what's said
She gropes for a retort.
She does a search
of her brain
and comes up with nothing.
The moment freezes in her memory.



Rain

Heavenly clouds
With wind through the trees.
Darkness surrounds
me and puddles abound.
When it's raining without rain
It's like love without pain.