Monday, November 24, 2008

a reflection of my trip to mexico

written in mexico, in the passenger's seat driving through the middle of the night towards Palenque

México

I write to you in the night

When my ink might best reflect your heavens

I have only the light of your eyes:

stars, deep black half moons

I breathe the deep breath of another day passed between us

And I know by your silence that you breathe with me

---

A small girl stands in the soaking rains of San Cristobal de las Casas

Holding the hand of her grandmother, fingers entertwined,

Between curtains of sopping hair, she peers across the street, now a river of water.

In her shoulders, she misses her mother,

In her heart is a river of water.

In her eyes is a reflection of the strong mountain sky from which she was born.

In Puerto Escondido your gaily painted houses

Rest against one another like long retired party-goers

Sleeping haphazardly on your soft sandy beaches

Fearing a new "tourist-friendly" makeover

In Cholula, an elderly former English teacher has given

tours of the pyramid tunnels for the past 30 years.

He left teaching so that he could better provide for his family

and though he still struggles, he pauses to tell of your treasures;

especially of your horchata cocoa

In Palenque, your future has built a town around your past,

Like a mother swathing her child in a blanket

Agua azul and the towering mayan ruins, there is so much to cherish,

It is present in every moment, in every part of mexico, new and old

---

We know that every morning fog eventually rises to give way to hope.

From your past, the ruins of great civilizations still linger.

Now your beautiful families overflow from cars and trucks,

Your children sit on bumpers, chewing tacos fresa, sipping chupando licuados

Your children sit on the edges of your mountains, on both your coasts,

In your heartland, with warm eyes, and inviting smiles,

Feet dangling into the valley of Mexico City,

into the warm waters - your blood, and squint into their rising sun.


México

Te escribo at ti en la noche

Cuando mi tinta talvez reflejara mejor tus cielos

Solamente tengo la luz de tus ojos:

Estrellas, medias lunas negras profundas

Respiro la respiración profunda de otro día pasado entre nosotros

Y yo se por tu silencio que tu respiras conmigo

---

Una niña chica se para en la imprégnate lluvia de San Cristóbal de las Casas

Agarrando la mano de su abuela, dedos entrelazados

Entre las cortinas de pelo empapado, se fija a través de la calle, ahora un río de agua.

En sus hombros, extraña a su madre,

En su corazón hay un río de agua.

En sus ojos hay una reflexión del cielo fuerte de la montaña de donde ella nació.

En Puerto Escondido sus casas pintadas alegremente

Descansan una contra la otra como festejantes retirados ya de largo

Casualmente durmiendo sobre tus suave arenosas playas

Temiendo un nuevo “turístico” cambio de imagen

En Cholula, un anciano ex-maestro de ingles ha guiado

Viajes de los túneles de las pirámides por los últimos 30 años.

El dejo su carrera para que poderle a su familia una vida mejor

Y aunque todavía batalla, el pausa para hablar sobre tus tesoros;

Especialmente de tu horchata de cocoa

En Palenque, tu futuro esta construido alrededor de tu pasado,

Como una madre envolviendo su hijo en una colcha

Agua azul y las exigentes ruinas mayas, hay bastante que apreciar,

Esta presente en cada momento, en cada parte de México, nuevo y pasado

--

Sabemos que cada neblina eventualmente sube para dar paso a la esperanza.

De tu pasado, las ruinas de grandes civilizaciones todavía persisten.

Ahora tus bellas familias desbordan de los carros y coches,

Tus hijos se sientan en los topes, masticando tacos fresa, chupando licuados

Tus hijos se sientan en los bordes de tus montañas, en ambas de tus costas,

En tu centro, con ojos tiernos, y sonrisas benévolas,

Pies colgando en el valle de D.F.,

En las aguas termales- tú sangre, y bizquera en su sol naciente.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

underscore the brilliance of darkness

quote:
The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation ... A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. ~ Henry David Thoreau

peace peace

alone never never alone
cross humble streams streams humble cross
algorithmic machinations give pause pause give machinations algorithmic
atop glittering confetti trails moonlit moonlit trails confetti glittering atop
paths iced streets glistening rain kiss dreams dreams kiss rain glistening streets iced paths
eyes held hands love thick substantive air words words air substantive thick love hands held eyes

peace peace