we dash to the gate
hearing the brass and drums for
Santo Domingo
Doña Yolanda,
thinking of what the kids like,
makes repocheta
car break-downs and bumps
slow Carretera Sur's flow;
the sunset glows though
"who causes such joy?"
"the assumption of Mary!"
neighbors cheer tonight
[Gritería chiquita]
it's over 90
in the house, my forehead drips
why am I baking?
light flashed, thunder rolled,
rain poured on our metal roof--
now, only slow drips
I had told our guests
I'd do the dishes later
but they still washed them
two days into school
already being tested
this one's negative
we're so glad she's back
from her Río Coco trip
we got ice cream cones
life's full of puzzles
the weekend is a good time
for one in a box
an old taxi man
opens the broken car door
and tells me stories
a volcanic rock
our big, craggy roadside friend
is ground down for fill
the evening bread man
pedals his bike cart, whistles,
and calls, "¡trae pan!"
it's the day to light
nine candles on a cupcake
happy birthday, son
these old petroglyphs--
solemn, regal stone figures--
have us wondering
[Granada, Nicaragua]
he paints the planets
fourth grade history project
we see that it's good
here's a fancy place
now with their own leaky roof
like everyone else
he's got bread to sell
says, "you didn't believe me!"
true, he surprised me
my bike had a flat
got a caponera ride
a friend gave me change
today I'm thankful
Yahaira taught our daughter
to make tortillas
best moment today
was seeing how our youngest
cuts a paper star
fresh nacatamal
leaf-wrapped and tied up with string
a favorite thing
