Edna St. Vincent Chamaco

All he could see from where he stood
was three long mountains and the hood.

He turned and looked the other way,
he saw three vatos who were bueys.

And with his eyes he traced a line
from barrio poems maligned.

The buildings were dilapidated
so was the girl he loved so long ago.

La Raza was so razafied
especially east of town.

All he could see from where he stood
was three letters of the Hollywood sign.

Sometimes he caught bullets with his teeth,
sometimes he outran them with his feet.