ay carnal vendido

St. Paul


When Mrs. Zapata killed Mr. Zapata,
son Zapata never talked about it.
Shot to death in the living room,

near the cemetery where Pedro Acevedes Gonzales
was buried after he returned
from the Viet Nam War dead.

Or Oralia’s two brothers
shot dead in a gunfight,
what was the name of that cantina?

Henry never goes back to his hometown,
he’s outgrown frijoles, tortillas, tamales.
He wears a tie, he’s a well-respected member

of the Minnesota community.
He shovels snow, he bundles up
and he can’t wait for spring just like the whites.