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[[image]]
"Tapon" y "Búfalo," Austin, Tejas, early '50's
Foto: a street photographer.

A TRIP THROUGH THE MIND JAIL

LA LOMA

Neighborhood of my youth
demolished, erased forever from 
the universe.
You live on, captive, in the lonely
cellblocks of my mind.

Neighborhood of endless hills
muddied streets-all chuckhole lined-
that never drank of asphalt.
Kids barefoot/snotty nosed
playing marbles/munching on bean tacos
(the kind you'll never find in a café)
2 peaceful generations removed from
their abuelos' revolution.

Neighborhood of dilapidated community hall
-Salón Cinco de Mayo-
yearly (May 5/Sept. 16) gathering 
of the familias. Re-asserting pride
on those two significant days.
Speeches by the elders,
patriarchs with evidence of oppression
distinctly etched upon mestizo faces.
"Sons of Independence!"
Emphasis on allegiance to the tri-color
obscure names: JUAREZ & HIDALGO
their heroic deeds. Nostalgic tales of war
years under VILLA'S command. No one listened,
no one seemed to really care.
Afterwards, the dance. Modest Mexican
maidens dancing polkas together
across splintered wooded floor.
They never deigned to dance with boys!
The careful scrutiny by curbstone sex-perts
8 & 9 years old. "Minga's bow-legged,
so we know she's done it, huh?"

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