The plazas, trees for shade,
Benches for hours,
Cool bricks,
The center, even with the high sun ….
Now, the homeless, drunk,
City cleaners – broom and pan -
Passersby, passers through ….
Why sit in a plaza for cool
When the high tension lines strung
To each village in the Republic
Stream in electricity and the window
Air units keep the populace in …?
Sipping the last of a melon-drink,
Playing with ice chunks,
I see the Republic,
A black and white movie-version,
Decades ago, the plaza filled,
The benches crowded with lovers,
Slow slow walkers, circling,
Often in sun, more in dark ….
“Fruit Drinks”
Long,long bridge,
Muddy river going east,
Trucks, hundreds,
Exhaust, choking …
And the heat,
Cutting into river brush,
Into asphalt,
And then thirst ….
A fruit drink,
Fruits, vegetables,
With the fruit drinks
In root-beer like plastic kegs:
Lemonade
Strawberry
Melon
Watermelon
Mango
Pineapple
A large melon drink,
Ten pesos,
And three workers
Run to lined cars,
Lined customers,
Thirst ….
A woman steps from sun,
Orders a five-peso mango drink,
Always ice within,
And goes to a dark of shade,
Waits for a bus,
Sipping, feet in sandals,
Face worn, skirt long ….
