Over the Borderline

Islas del Cielo I saw sky islands reaching high above me As I scuffled across the rocky desert floor They looked so inviting…yet so very far I stared out at those islands without a shore Down here I look around And there are no tall trees Just shrubs and rock and cacti And other immigrant debris Up there it seems so green And the air…must be so cool To have left my mountain home in Mexico I must have been a fool But in Estados Unidos the money is green In my home of Durango the money is gone The children’s shoes are tattered and worn So we made this dreadful journey…just me and Juan We left the Sierra Madre for Chihuahua Stowaway scorpions hid in our packs We battled our way up to Sonora On dusty desert railroad tracks We lived on beans and tortillas Rode in boxcars and slept in the arroyo Got drunk on homemade tequilas And listened to music on Mexican radio Border lights twinkled as we crossed over sand Then into a semi with the door slammed tight

Run From La Frontera Just a boy of twelve Not too strong, not too sure “Vamos al norte,” they said “ Listen to the coyote!” These men of my family Pleaded with me Tugged me, pushed me, scolded me Into reluctance, step by step Falling behind them... Unnoticed I turned and slipped behind a shed The rest were pulled north Like moths attracted to a light bulb See the wall, in all its rusted glory But it repelled me And I felt the pull of Morelia.... De mi Abuela Behind the shed, I poked my head... Out They’ve lost me, dollar signs fill their eyes Lemmings they are, the border their cliff Let them fall into the desert abyss Two weeks now on this road Ever so parted from mi Padre, Primo y Tio This road ever so long and hot Eating well on fruits from a farmers lot Sneaking what I can get Took a rooster from a pen Killed it first with a stone Tied it to my belt and started for home My directional pointed south Toward a sheltered spot en la playa Cerca