Delight of winter warmth,
carved stones from an ancient culture
supporting the Dominican Catholic church,
rusty red coiled bedspring fence,
hot pink bougainvilleas framing arched entries,
braying donkeys — a wake-up call, cobblestones under foot,
the sentinel mount Picacho, looms, dye pots,
cauldrons of fresh hot chocolate, pollo con mole,
Samburguesa’s tacos, Anita’s nieves,
daily market hubbub, abuelas adorned in aprons
and braids, guacalotes gurgling and clucking,
a basketball court at the end of Avenida Juarez ,
hanks of freshly dyed yarn
drying on a wood fence, children in uniform
off to school, coffee at the Sacred Bean, a farmer
leading his bull to pasture, bedspring fence,
faded black mourning ribbon above the doorway,
green quinciniera bouquet, health message graffiti,
un poquito mezcal in teeny green cups, urns of
lilies on the home altar, maize growing in the church
courtyard, aged fife player leading the
marching band, whirling July dancers with feathered
plumes, beeswax candles made by hand,
cat curled in the window box, gnarled hands forming
tamales, songs at Sunday mass, grecas carved
in 2,000 year old stone, hard work, family
celebrations, vintage bus to Benito Juarez painted verdant
mountain adornment, waiting for tourists, life goes on.
Category Poem: Teotitlan del Valle
Delight of winter warmth,
carved stones from an ancient culture
supporting the Dominican Catholic church,
rusty red coiled bedspring fence,
hot pink bougainvilleas framing arched entries,
braying donkeys — a wake-up call, cobblestones under foot,
the sentinel mount Picacho, looms, dye pots,
cauldrons of fresh hot chocolate, pollo con mole,
Samburguesa’s tacos, Anita’s nieves,
daily market hubbub, abuelas adorned in aprons
and braids, guacalotes gurgling and clucking,
a basketball court at the end of Avenida Juarez ,
hanks of freshly dyed yarn
drying on a wood fence, children in uniform
off to school, coffee at the Sacred Bean, a farmer
leading his bull to pasture, bedspring fence,
faded black mourning ribbon above the doorway,
green quinciniera bouquet, health message graffiti,
un poquito mezcal in teeny green cups, urns of
lilies on the home altar, maize growing in the church
courtyard, aged fife player leading the
marching band, whirling July dancers with feathered
plumes, beeswax candles made by hand,
cat curled in the window box, gnarled hands forming
tamales, songs at Sunday mass, grecas carved
in 2,000 year old stone, hard work, family
celebrations, vintage bus to Benito Juarez painted verdant
mountain adornment, waiting for tourists, life goes on.