EACH SENSE REMEMBERS IT

I remember back home

and gazillions of stars

in plain sight

the burning of the skin

with the daylight

the sound of nature

introducing a new day

I remember the fragrance of the sea

fried fish and coconut rice

Catholic church on Sundays and

the closeness of its inhabitants

I remember summer all year

I remember back home and

its folklore

the Cumbia in my blood

whistles and drums from the past

women in overskirts

moving as freedom

the blood pumping through my veins

with every move

each sense remembers it

I remember home and

its fertility

cattle raising and bullfight

pottery and Indians  

I remember their unquenchable hope

for peace/ progress/ capital

I remember home and

the guerrilla’s terror

the early curfew

criminals going free

Back home I remember

cardboard-made houses

frequent blackouts

ghettos were common

money for the elites

power for the elites

leftovers for the people

I do remember the anguish

of not knowing what to eat for tomorrow

of not owning dreams big enough for tomorrow

I remember back home

heat waves paralyzing the town

hurricanes early morning

knee-length floods

and rocky roads

I remember women debased

mean arrogant

machismo

I do remember it

back home

I remember it all.