Summer Nights

Just as the sun begins to settle itself

The heat seems to subside

Those Summer Nights brings the barrio to life

The abuelitos sit in their front lawns

In their plastic chairs, enjoying the breeze of the evening

Reminiscing of their younger days

“Mira, los chiquillos … cuando yo tenía su edad…”

And the kids of the barrio run wild on the streets

Ready to  play hide and seek

“Who’s it?”

“You are…”

“No, I was yesterday”

“Yeah, thats why your it today”

“Again???”

“Otra vez?”

1, 2, 3 , 4...

The mamas gather in front of someone's front porch

To have their taza de cafe

Sharing the daily gossip

“Did you hear what happened to Dona Maria’s daughter?”

“Que paso?”

‘Well, I heard that she got caught besuquiandose with her boss in the storage room.”

“Ay Dios Mio”

“That’s not what I heard…”

5, 6, 7, 8 ...

The papas gather in someone’s garage

They bring out the beat up blue cooler

Obviously filled with ice cold tecates

Discuss about work and their trucks  

9, 10, 11, 12...

“Remember viejito, when we use to chase the chickens”

The abuelitos in their old age

Are the wisest souls

The matriarchs and patriarchs of the families and the barrio

Over seeing their reign on the barrior and life

The fruits of their sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears

13, 14...

The children, most innocent of souls

Oblivious to the masterful world around them

How their barrio is rich of history, culture, and traditions

But their occupied with finding the best hiding place

15, 16 …

The clicking of the tea cups

The sweet sound of giggles and laughs

This is the barrio

Many will grow up and leave

17, 18 …

But they will always return home

To el barrio

On those endless summer nights

19, 20… “ready or not here I come”