Layers of soldiers take the streets.
Uniforms green and blue.
This is now, here in Matamoros.
Shoot-outs stilled for mid-afternoon;
Many before this 15th of September,
More to follow ….
On a pedestrian walkway between
The coffee store and fruit drink stand
A man in a blue uniform,
“Federal” in black on back
Walks slowly his right hand
In the left hand of the young woman at his side.
Her hair, that dark black, the same black
As the automatic rifle heavily slung
Upon his right shoulder ….
Stares begin, from the coffee store,
From the fruit drink stand.
How is this slow walk possible?
Why isn’t he posted at a government building?
Why isn’t he at the plaza?
Why isn’t he at an intersection?
Why isn’t she home?
Where is her fear?
But for this moment.
Soldier and woman have found
Their slow walk…
A walk that a bullet
In a bloody second could end
But from the mid-afternoon blue sky
Lighter than his uniform,
A connection steps, far away from
Larger guns, more and more soldiers.
Back to the coffee store,
Back to the fruit drinks,
Knowing that hand-in-hand is possible,
Even in years of violence past,
Even in years of violence forecast ….
