She remembers chasing pigs
under coffee trees.
She remembers hiding from the teenage
soldiers who shot her father,
when a cough would mean death,
and a two month journey
to California with her mother,
walking, busses, walking, hot, walking.
Now little Maria, immigrant,
illegal, barefoot, sits
legs astraddle
hands in lap
mid-aisle
blocking traffic
bug-eyed
staring up at a wall of
one thousand Barbie dolls.
Same planet,
different world.
She blew her mind
in Toys R Us
turned a corner
in the mall
found herself
suddenly flying
with eight tiny reindeer,
sobbing.
12/24/83
© Copyright 1983 and 1999 by Joe CottonwoodNext: "Sit Down. Eat."