This poem is a first draft effort that grew from a free writing assignment in my poetry workshop. Thoughtful critiques are welcomed.
Second draft now appears below
Bordertown
Welcome to my border town world.
Dusty and dry, dark music and crazed taxis,
Narrow alleyways packed with piñatas,
Colors invite and entice.
Hanging sombreros, marble chess sets, BARGAINS
everywhere.
Donkey carts - “Hey! Peekchurs, CHEAP!”
My weekly visit leads me to panaderias, mercados, and carnicerias
I am known by the locals AS
a local. I am untouchable.
Helping hands, not groping hands
keep me safe.
Smells follow me and lead me on,
Sour, sweet, spicy and foul.
Hovels and mansions living side by side
Barrios and Jai Alai – homes of
Poverty and MONEY.
Smoke hangs like a pall
Over frenzied, sun-battered streets.
Sailors on leave. college boys prowling.
Men ogling, women distaining.
Turistas abound.
Midwest visitors wide-eyed in a foreign land.
Sex-seeking visitors score
“Hey! Pretty girls. VIRGINS!”
As orphanages spring up housing the offspring
of $5.00 for 15 minutes hotels.
7 comments:
What a beautiful description!
Such a vivid portrayal of the place and its people. Sad.
You have a way of capturing an image and holding it up to see. Even for a midwest vistor or a wide eyed foreigner!
I enjoyed that, Annie.
And I have a thing or two to say about you know what. I need to find a little moment, though.
Best
There's a lot of layers in this poem- well done, I might say. It was poetic but also very visual... and it's spot on.
xo
Good luck with your writing. You are really getting into it :-)
I've been there - it's just as I remember but your words bring it back more vividly than my mind.
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