FATHER


Father
When I asked you
If our brethren
Had started the war
You told me the truth

A pitch roof
Is bad for missiles

Father
The speaker
Had the eyes
Of a dog
And you sat
Next to me
I felt so proud
And the lecturer
Scratched his beard

Father
Again you were with me
And the federal judge
Ruled in favor
Of children
In favor of happiness
In favor of the future

Father
How I admired you
That day when
Your gorgeous opponent
Tried to seduce you
To persuade you
To influence you
With her exquisite touch
But you did not released
Your harvest

Father
And the city looked more beautiful
And I was struck with contemplation
Looking at the river
Through the window
In the skyscraper

Father
You were always
So kind in church
And so fierce
At work

Father I came to understand
And to love
Your choice of diets
How happy I was
When our community
Ate together and
I saw you
Slicing pieces of ham

Father
You made me
You thought me
You inspired me
And you terrified me
With things I did not understand
And you were so strong
How did you get so strong?

EL PERRITO


El perro─oveja
Es una oveja
Pero también
Un perro

Por eso
Le gustan las ovejitas
Y también las perritas

El perro─oveja
Es manso
Pero no menso

Sabe identificar
A otros híbridos
Sin asustar
A los niños

SELFISHNESS


Taxi drivers
And a middle age prostitute
With school supplies
In her hands

Assembled like
A heard of cattle
With mad cow disease

Gathering of champions
At God’s threshold
Luminaries of decay
Factories of poisoned visions

Waiting for time travel
Waiting for the truth
Waiting for the unknown
Waiting for anything but this

Their journey
Will not begin with
A secret government machine
Nor with the magic
Of shamans or witches
Or Pentecostal frenzies
Or mystical steps
Or Hollywood’s New Age

Their last card
Will be pulled from under the table
From under their sleeve
From the deep
From the dark
From the place
Where the sobbing starts
From the energy of a wolf
Leaking his own blood
On a sharp knife
From everywhere but here

The middle-class ones
Will pull the trigger
The rich ones
Will slid their wrists
In a bathtub
With boiling water

The poor will use a rope
But this will not workIt will break
It will give in
To the weight
Of their failings

They will hit the floor
The stronger ones
Will attain concussions
The weaker ones
Broken bones

THE STUDENT


How fast he learns
Music is intent

The guitar
Is the perfect companion

You can touch it softly
And create you own reality

His notes relay innocence
His music travels
Through drug addicted ghettos

His strumming
Guards the balance of happiness

His fingertips struggle
With chords of survival

NIGHTFALL

You look like a star
My neurotic spy
Your sister is smaller than you
But I love you both
You 2 hang from the sky
Remarkable cosmetics
Of a superpower

COMANDANTE ARAGON


Don’t try to
Pull your hand away
As I try to greet you

Comandante de Policia

A firm hand shake
Shows character

If you don’t like me
Just say so
But don’t hesitate

It doesn’t make
A good first impression

It doesn’t look good
In the presence
Of your subordinates

It was not my intention
To reel you into this

Art is sometimes
Full of surprises

Your police officers
Were euphoric
About the radios

Perhaps I can
Sell it to you too


A CONTRITE POLICEMAN

“Sorry man, I fucked up” The cop said.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I called the Comandante”
“Nothing to worry about right? We are amongst friends aren’t we?” I asked.
The police officer kept his silence. I looked at his nametag and it read Hector Estrada. I thought about Erick Estrada for a moment, but Hector was not as cool as Erick. I pressed on.
“Hector, there’s no need to be so concerned, it is only a radio. You do like it right?”
“Well yes, and if it is okay, I would like to buy one from you”
“Of course it is okay, and I would be happy to sell you one”
“Do you have cell phone?” Hector asked.
“I don’t like those things”
“Why?”
“Because they give you cancer”
“How so?”
“Do you know what a microwave is?”
“An electric oven?”
“Something like that, you see Hector, cell phones work with microwaves, and when you place the cell phone on you ear, what happens is that the microwaves enter your brain through your ear canal. And your brain begins to cook.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Hector and what is even more dangerous to your health is when you drive in your squad car using one of those machines. Once you are using a cell phone in the comfort of you own automobile, the microwaves convert you car into a microwave oven. You wouldn’t want to be turned into a taco. Would you?
Hector’s pupils looked like green beans, he looked towards his right at saw an unmarked white pick up truck enter the compound’s parking lot.
“The Comandante is here” Hector said.
“Relax Hector, everything will be alright”
I looked at a cop that was standing next to a wall behind Hector. He was in the background and he looked like he was about to cry.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

We drove towards grandma house. The 3 of us sat silently in the car; I was thinking how much I enjoyed the liturgy that had concluded a few moments ago. A good liturgy has the following elements: passion, drama, and a heavy dose of art.
The children perhaps were thinking of a theme park, or about the toys they would like to play with. Traffic began to slow down and soon we could see a checkpoint ahead.
“What happened dad?”
“It’s the Federales”
“What are they doing?”
“They making sure everything is alright”
“Look at their machine guns dad”
“Yes, machines guns” Now I knew what their precious minds were focusing on.
When our car approached the officer, he looked us, he scrutinized us, he studied us and he said:
“Pull over the side of the road” He had a chilango accent.
This was a first, since the Federal Police was restructured by the Calderon administration, that we were stop by them, the last time a federal pulled me over he had to as asked for a cigarette and then he let us go. I remember at that time my boys were two beautiful babies sound a sleep on their car seats. This time there would be no cigarettes since I don’t smoke anymore.
“Registration please” He asked as we looked at him silently.
“Here you are” I gave him a folded registration card that I took out from a coin pouch.
“Your driver license please”
“There you go” I took the card from my wallet and handed to him.
“What do you do?”
“I sell radios”
“Can you open the trunk?”
“Yes, I can” I got out of the car, walked towards the back of my car, inserted the key, and twist first to the right, and then to the left. The trunk opened. My briefcase was in plain view.
“Open the briefcase”
I opened the briefcase and step away from it. He inspected the overall contents except for the inner compartment.
“What in there?” He asked with a trembling voice refereeing to the unopened section.
“A computer”
“How long have you been in the radio business?” The pitch in his voice was shaking.
“I have been an operator for a very long time”
“You can go sir, sorry for the inconvenience”
“Have a nice day” I said.
The other policemen stop all oncoming traffic; I accelerated and began to drive on the road again.
“What do you learned today kids?”
“That persuasion is better than guns” My boys answered in unison and with boredom in their voices.
“That’s right children, never forget that”

YOU


You
Beautiful native girl
Walking next to me
At the grocery store
You make me feel alive

You
Old man whistling
As I pass you by
You reaffirm
My existence

You
Smiling soldier

You
Nervous businessman

You
Tourist town
With psychotic charm
Confirmation of consciousness

You
One man carwash

You
Sweating policeman

You
Friendly fisherman
Who likes to share
With you fellowman

You
Fisher of humans
Teacher of those
Willing to learn

You
Yellow airplane
You visit me daily
You force me to look up
Towards the heavens

FISHING IN PEMEX


“Let’s go fishing”
“Been watching too many fishing shows on the tube?”
“No, I am hungry”
“Charlie told me the best fishing is done by the PEMEX condominiums”
“We already have a grill, it be great to throw some fish on it”
“That’s a good idea, but I rather use the grill for carne asada”
“You know I am a vegetarian”
“I know man; I am just giving you a hard time, fishing is like hunting, is better in the early morning or the late afternoon”
“I see”
“Yeah man, we can use the boy’s fishing rods, all we have to do is get some used sparkplugs ─we are going to be fishing oily fish anyways─ from a mechanic and use them as sea leads, and we need to stop and pick some fishing hooks.
“Very good then”

We threw the stuff in the car and made our way towards town. I drove slowly because of all the potholes; this adds some longevity to the suspension of any used car. We could see the ocean down below us; it is this way on sunny days. We were heading west, traveling down the hill. One problem I have to face when I drive slowly is dust. Dust always catches with you. I have tried driving faster on other occasions to see if I could leave the clouds of dust behind just to watch them forming in front of me. Dust is just a problem one has to deal with it. Once we hit the pavement we were faced with other realities that need to be taken into consideration, like semi trucks, and taxi drivers, and unlicensed drivers (one of those put me out of order for more than a year) greedy cops and smiley soldiers sporting machine guns.

“Are you going to stop for the sparkplugs?”
“Yes, there’s a tire shop up here”
“Do you know them?”
“I think they know me”
“Okay”
“Alright, I’ll be right back” I got out of the car and approached the owner.
“Do you have any used sparkplugs? You know, for fishing?”
“No, sorry we do not” He showed some genuine consternation.
“How about nuts and bolts or any thing we can use for sea leads”
“No, you see, we fish too” The 3 grubby fellows that were sitting next to him smiled affirming their boss’s remarks.
“Okay, thank you”
“Wait” one of the grubby ones said.
“Yes?”
“If you go up the road you will find a mechanic that does taxis, he will have your sparkplugs”
“Thanks man”
“Good luck”
I got back in my car and I was asked:
“Any luck?”
“No, but I was directed to the right location”
“Good”
“Yeah”
I drove a few blocks and we spotted a bunch of broken yellow taxis.
“I think we’re here” I said.
“I believe so” Cruz said.
“I be right back”
“Okay”
I spotted a guy in a taxi looking at me; I tried to approach him but he signaled with his hand, directing me to go inside the compound. I walked in and saw a guy under the hood of a yellow taxi.
“Buenas tardes” I said
He looked at me and did not say anything.
“Do you have sparkplugs? I pressed.
“How many do you need?”
“2”
“Wait here” He walked inside a shed and came out with 2 oily sparkplugs and handed them to me.
“Thank you” I said.
He did not say anything and went back to work under the hood of the car. As for me, I got back to my car and handed the 2 sparkplugs to Cruz.
“Got them” I said.
“Good”
“Now lets get out of here, we still need to go and get the hooks”
“Do you want me to watch out for you as you back out?”
“No, I’ll be okay”

At the store I saw two girls who were stocking shelves, and I asked the prettiest one.
“Do you have fishing hooks?”
“Yes, I think we do, can you show him please” she said to her coworker.
“Yes, comes with me sir” She said. I followed her and noticed she had a beautiful body. We arrived at the sports department and she knelt next to a gun case and looked through the window of a wooden box.
“Sorry sir, we are out of hooks”
“Thank you for looking”
“You are welcome”
I needed to break a $100 dollar bill so I walked to the tortilleria, grabbed a kilo, and hurried back to the cash register.
“I can help you here sir”
“Yes, thank you” I place the kilo of tortillas next to her.
“Is that all?”
“Yes” I handed her the bill.
“Do you have anything smaller?”
“No” I smiled and then she smiled back.
“Can I give you your change in pesos?”
“No, dollars please” I smiled once again and I saw how her pupils minimized till they looked like two small planets.
“Okay then, I am going to get your change” She ran towards an office. She was pretty and reminded me of a girl I once wrote a song for. When she came back she gave me my change and wished me a good day. I did the same.
“No hooks man”
“Tough luck”
“I’ll try the radio”
“Good idea”
“CQ, CQ, CQ, where can I get fish hooks?
“Deportes Atlas” said the voice coming from the speaker.
“Thank you and 73”
“73” said the radio operator.
“Okay, to the sporting store it is”

It was difficult to find parking in downtown but with persistence we managed to park in front of the store.
“You know the drill, I be right back?”
“I know”
“May I help you” said the clerk behind the counter.
“Yes, I need fishing hooks”
“You came to the right place, come over here and let me show you” The case was filled with all sizes and styles of hooks.
“I am looking for small ones, I am fishing from the shore”
“What do you thing of these ones?” He showed me a size 6 hook.
“Perfect, I’ll takes 6 of them”

We drove towards the beach looking for the fabled PEMEX Condominiums. Charlie always told incredible stories of successful fishing at the place. I got lost and ended up a military check point.
“Is the way to the PEMEX Condominiums? I asked
The military man was carrying a side arm, it might have been a 9 millimeter or a 45, it was hard to tell. He was probably a Captain; I could see 3 soldiers with him carrying M16’s.
“No, this the Thermoelectric Plant, you can’t fish here but I show you how to get to the condominiums” He said with a smile.
“Is it true there’s good fishing there?”
“Yes, but as you know, is a matter of luck”
“You are right”
“Good luck”
“Thanks”
We drove away towards the condominiums. I was eager to cast my bait, but I knew we had more than enough time.
“Did you see the face of the soldier on the booth?
“No”
“He looked preoccupied”
“Really?”
“Yes, I hope they don’t shoot us with a bazooka”
“No, the Captain looks like a good man”

At the PEMEX condominiums we did not see any spectacular fishing spot; there was no parking and no way to access the beach from those government buildings.
“No wonder” said Cruz
“What?”
“All the good looking girls we see at the main boulevard are coming from here”
“I think you are right, I think Charlie is also right, but I don’t feel like fishing inside a penthouse.
“Yeah”
“Let’s get out of here; we’re going to the PEMEX Beach”
“Okay”
“We need to get close to the dikes… that’s were the fish are”
“Great, perhaps we can get on top of them and fish from up there”
“No, I don’t think the soldiers like that, they’re very protective”
“There just making a big deal out of nothing”
“They don’t like accidents”
“Yes, better play it safe”

We parked the car and walked about half a mile to the dikes. I was tempted to drive on the sand, but did not want to risk getting stuck, at any rate, exercise is medicine. We got close to the rocks, rigged our fishing rods and cast away. There were other fishermen doing better than us. Nonetheless we were fishing. We were concentrating on all the fish we could get.
“What’s up with the rabbit hunter?” said Cruz.
“He’s protecting the dikes, just doing his job”
The soldier walked on the rocks, he was wearing cammo fatigues and a M16 hanged from his shoulder. His face was that of a happy child, playing on his back yard.

WALKING


I like my
Hippo boots

Each step
Resurrects a memory

I can climb
To heaven
With my
Hippo boots

I can smile
All the way
To happiness
When my feet
Are surrounded
With my
Hippo boots

SHORT HAIRCUT & GLASSES


The creator
Of conspiracies
Enters the
Children’s playground
He has a
Beautiful wife
He carries
A baby
In his arms
And another one
Of his offspring
Walks beside him

TERRACERÍA


La pareja de nativos
Caminan por
Un lado de la carretera
Pintoresca aparición
Siguen el camino
Avanzan hacia abajo
Saludando al polvo
Y ella habla
Por un celular

ASHTRAY


The cowboys hats moved up & down. Their drunken owners dancing to Norteño Corridos. Their wives, lovers, or girlfriends, were shaken across the dance floor like worn puppets. The Band was good. Indian looking fellows played with a lot of feeling. The accordion sounded great. Superb funeral music. Since I don’t like to dance just for fun I sat at the bar and tried to write my way out of a dilemma. Nothing in particular, I just like to think in those terms when I am writing. I like to think I am solving some kind of problem. I looked towards my right and I saw a goofy guy standing to close for comfort.

“What do you want?” I asked.
“An ashtray”
“Where are you from?”
“Iran”
“Sorry I don’t smoke”
“I need an ashtray”
“Why don’t you get it from the waiter”
“Passed me that ashtray” he pointed to a black ashtray next to me.
“Aren’t you Muslim?”
“Yes”
“I thought Mulsims did not do booze, look at you, you’re all fucked up… not that I care, we Catholics are allowed to enjoy good liquor. I just don’t have your ashtray”
“Ashtray….”
“You know, when I used to smoke, I used to smoke Camels”

The smiley Iranian stopped smiling and walked away.
Ashes… I have been around ashes all my life. It’s just too much.
I also got up walked outside of bar and I could feel the ocean’s breeze and it felt good. I looked at the lights of the nearby boats that pierced the darkness and I wished them good luck.

AT THE BORDER CHECKPOINT


“What’s in the suitcases?”
“A whole lot of love”
I did not say that because Led Zeppelin was playing on the radio. I said it because it was true.
“Love uh?”
“Yes, you want me to show you?”
“No! Don’t open them! You can go now.
And we were inside America just like that.



PORTABLE LOVE


Love
Can be concealed
Inside a suitcase
Or inside a sub─heart

Love
Keeps you warm
When it is cold
And it keeps you cool
When you are in hell

Always pray for love
Because love is water
And just like water
Love can hurt
Or even kill you

Love
Is a being
That’s always
Changing colors

Love fits everywhere!

Love is hated
In an awful
Lot of places
Love tastes good

Love looks good
So good that
You feel fire
Seizing your spine

Love
Is before the big bang!

Love
Will be
The brightness
Of the end

BORDER CROSSING BY FOOT

“Give me your wallet!”
I handed the migra my wallet as he held my border─crossing card.
“And what about you?”
The migra asked my companion.
“I am with him.”
“Citizenship?”
“American.”
Answered my lovely escort.
“You 2 come with me.”
The migra instructed us to follow him. He took us to an office on the side of the building. There we found a Midwestern looking fellow with his boots on a metal desk. His neck was red.
“This is the girlfriend”
Our guard retorted.
“Fiancée” I corrected.
“Leave them here, I’ll deal with them”
Said the migra on the desk. The first migra left the room and closed the door. I felt the pressure of claustrophobia beginning to take a hold of both of us.
“I don’t have any money” I said
“Shut up” He said.
“Fuck you” I softly replied.
“What?”
“Nothing”
The migra got up with his baton on his right hand and advanced towards me.
“No, please officer” Said my partner with tears in her blue eyes.
“Look what you did you stupid brute. She’s pregnant” I said.
“Sit down you motherfucker!”
The migra yelled as he held his baton over my head. I winced and then sat down on a metal chair.
“Stay here and don’t move!” ordered the redneck as he walked out the room and slammed the metal door.
“I am scared” she said sobbing.
“Don ‘t be afraid, come here and sit next to me”
“What’s going to happen?”
“They’re going to let us go”
“How do you know?”
“Because we haven’t committed any crimes and you are American, young, beautiful, and extremely attractive. Good qualities for a witness to have”
“We are in trouble”
“No, this is almost over”
“I don’t feel good”
“Breath in…. breathe out…”
The door opened and a gentle looking, grandpa─type, churchgoing─brand of migra entered the room and gave us our documents.
“Okay kids you can go”
“You see, we can go… thank you sir”
“All right goodbye” said the older migra with a tired voice.
“Thank you sir” She said.
“Okay, okay… bye bye” He said.
“Let’s go” I said
And we walked away and entered California and passed the fast food restaurants and I checked to see that there were no more tears in her lovely eyes and we kept walking. And the sun was making her red hair change in color intensity.
“You know?” she said.
“What?”
“We should get a bomb”
“A bomb?”
“Yes, honey… a bomb”
“Too much damage…. very primitive… very unaesthetic. What we need is a device that helps good people; that inspires and empowers those who are against evil, but at the same time, something that stops the bad folks from causing more damage.
“Juan?” she asked.
“Yes?”
“I love you”
“I love you more”

CLIENTES


"I have an alien implant on my scrotum
It was placed there by a green─woman
She used her tongue to perform the operation"


─ ¿Entonces qué?
─ ¿Qué de qué?
─ ¿No te gusta mija?
─ Sí, está muy bonita.
─ No te tienes que preocupar absolutamente de nada. Yo me encargaré de todos los gastos de la boda.
─ ¿De cuál boda?
─ De su boda─ ¿De la boda de su hija?
─ Sí, de la boda de ustedes, de mija y tú.
─ ¿No cree que nos estamos apresurando demasiado?
─ No, al contrario, creo que estamos perdiendo el tiempo.
─ Pero si ni siquiera la conozco, sólo la he visto una vez , aunque sí es muy hermosa, se ha de parecer a su mamá… quizá ocupemos conocernos más, salir a dar una vuelta a la playa, al cine, a cenar.
─ No digas tonterías, conmigo no vas a jugar.
─ No estoy jugando ni diciendo tonterías…. si estuviera jugando con usted le diría algo como:
“su panza cuelga de la hebilla del cinturón,
la puedo abrir como a un zipper
y sus intestinos caerán en el suelo
y nos ensuciaran los zapatos.”
─ No estés chingando.
─ Usted empezó.
─ ¿Entonces como le vamos hacer?
─ Pues primero creo que tenemos que conocernos. Hace unos momentos, cuando ví a su hija, sus ojos emanaban una mirada tierna y dulce hacia mí. Está es una buena señal. Quizá podamos llegar a entendernos. Ya sabe usted lo complicado que son los misterios del amor.
─ Más vale que esto te de resultado.
─ Señor, recuerde que yo lo estoy ayudando a usted. No usted a mí.
─ No te hagas pendejo. Yo sé que ocupas el trabajo.
─ Recuerde que mi trabajo es hacer lo correcto.
─ Por favor, es que, estoy muy preocupado por ella…
─ No se aflija, tenga fe, recuerde que el dinero no es la solución para todos los problemas.
─ Gracias por ayudarme.
─ De nada señor. Sea paciente. Ya verá que todas las cosas van a salir bien.

PERSECUCIÓN


La patrulla nos perseguía a toda velocidad. Y nosotros nos reímos nerviosamente y fumábamos cigarrillos. Por el espejo retrovisor podía ver el rostro del único policía dentro del vehiculo. El rostro del chofer tenía todos los tintes de avaricia y las manchas de la codicia. Sospecho que por las mismas razones no reportó la persecución. Quizá sabía de lo que estaban repletos los maletines que llevábamos en la cajuela. Y mi chica apuntaba con su M16 y se apoyaba, en parte, en el asiento en que íbamos sentados. Y me preocupé un poco porque sabía que una vez que empezaran las detonaciones el cristal trasero de nuestro vehiculo se destrozaría mandado miles de astillas de vidrio por doquier. También sabía que Rosa contaba con el mejor entrenamiento militar y que no iba a sacar la mitad de su cuerpo por la ventana de su puerta para empezar a disparar.
─ Espera. Pronuncié.
─ ¿Por qué?
─ Porque no quiero que les des en la madre a mis tímpanos.
─ Te dije que me dejaras manejar.
─ ¿Estás loca?
─ No estoy loca, tu sigue manejando y yo me encargo del chota.
─ No, espera si nos detenemos te puedes bajar del carro y te arreglas con él.
─ No, es demasiado tarde, ya me vio apuntando.
─ Bueno por lo menos déjame bajar las ventanas para reducir el….
¡Pop pop pop pop pop pop pop pop pop pop!
El sonido del .223 invadió el interior del vehiculo, el de nosotros y el del policía también, pero a diferencia de nuestros efectos auditivos, el agente ha de haber escuchado algo similar a un golpeteo metálico antes de partir hacia el más allá. Por mi retrovisor podía ver nuestra ventana desecha y también la patrulla llena de hoyos, detenida en medio de la carretera, quedándose atrás a consecuencia de nuestra velocidad. La del carro y la de Rosa.
─ ¿Éxito? Indagué.
─ Sí.
─ ¿No más chota?
─ No.
─ ¿Segura?
─ Sí, lo convertí en una botella. En un rocío muy colorado.

ESTROBOS


El canto
De las sirenas
Me fascina

Me convierte
En un loco alegre

Es música
Para enamorados

Códigos auditivos
De aventuras accidentadas

Momentos semánticos
Que provocan
El eco de perros

MORNING


She moves
With ethereal motions
Dressed in white
Most of the time

OUTSIDE THE TRAFFIC WAS INTENSIFYING


─ Juan?
─ Yes?
─ Do you have a daughter?
─ Why do you ask?
─ Sometimes when I read you work, I get this feeling, that you have a daughter or daughters.
─ Sometimes I feel the same.
─ Do you?
─ Do I what?
─ Do you have a daughter?
─ The truth of the matter is that there are some girls out there that I care for very much. I feel so much for them that at times I see them as my offspring.
─ Can I be your daughter?
─ You want me to be your Daddy?
─ Yes.
─ You will have to stop smoking dope, and you will have to stop relying on electronic devices to get things done. Learn to trust your intuition, rely more on nature, and put the artificial away. Discover how to do it by your own juices.