for Anita

you've taught me words

foreign to my tongue

pacquete, sobre

I knew gracias, buenas días, and caballo

one too fast broke

mucho

how can I know what is

foreign to me?

that night when your name urged prayer

I thought husband not

hijo

how can I know what is

foreign to me?

lives and hearts and dreams

shattered

tears and pain and grief

intact

how can I know what is

foreign to me?

last night when your name urged prayer

I thought esperanza

not

despair

(9/2001)