IN MEXICO

 

FROM THE WHORE HOUSES TO HEAVEN

 

The mariachi musicians in TJ stumbled into the church bleary eyed

Dragging their instruments with them

Preparing to serenade the Virgin of Guadalupe

Whose day it was

Would the benevolent virgin bless them

As they played for her celebration

After they had entertained the whores and their johns at night

Or would she have frowned

And waved a finger at them for playing their music for those

Who profaned the spiritual purity of love

While they marked her day with joy and reverence

Speaking her praises through the voices of their instruments

I glanced at her and could see the radiance of her smile.

 

ICE CREAM MAN

 

Swan Lake on Calle Cantil

The ice cream man is dancing down the street

Doing a ballet of cones, cups and pops.

Many flavors to chill your mouth

And thrill your taste buds with delight

Arriving on Yankee Doodle

Shifting to My Darling Clementine

The ice cream man is the star of his daily ballet

His sweaty exertions cooled by the breeze from the sea.

 

Children circle around him

A chattering corps de ballet

Chocolate smeared faces

Vanilla coated tongues

Making pirouettes over their creamy choices

Begging for pesos

To have just one more

The ice cream man is only too happy

To stimulate their taste buds

With complementary flavors

Creating a pas de deux of heavenly joy.

 

                                                                                   

 

 

 

WORKING IN CHIAPAS

 

The old woman with cracks in her hands

Sewing with yellow threads

Sitting in the doorway of the church

Her lined face intent

Working patiently

A cell phone cradled in her lap.

 

                                                                                    Howard Pflanzer