love in a time of uncertainty
when death hovers on the porch
and everything that usually matters
stands still
love means someone you can
show your fear
and speak its name out loud
someone who wants to
hold your hand anyway
someone who says
in all the swirl of unknown to-bes
look into my eyes
like when we’re dancing
maintaining our equilibrium
while the rest of the world dissolves
into a blur of bright color
and rhythmic noise
we’ll hold each other upright
smiling through the spin
Latin vs. Norteamérica
in Perú
plazas are a spot of shade and color
refreshing water tossed into air
benches to rest, watch the world, meet a friend
flowers to remind you the whole world isn’t barren
and a promise of salvation at one end
in America
plazas are strip malls
Tacna-Puno bus
little abuelita
in her thin grey braids
tied together at the tips
sensible shoes and thick nude hose
pink flowered dress
and bougainvillea-tinted cardigan
with a blue pocketed smock over top
brown lined face
and mostly toothless smile
you chatter on
and instead of according you
great respect as expected
folks mostly ignore you
why?
maybe they are crazy ravings
or maybe they were taught
not to speak to “Indians”
