Carmen

She was bad to the bone
in her frying pan barrio pants

her asphalt abuela
cancelled her chancla classes

the new baby
made of toothpaste tacos

lunes lunes was not
just monday monday

on disco boulevard
or guadalupe lupe

a cumbia dog
arrived from paradise

everyone knew
she was bad to the bone

the circus men
and the construction workers

climbed roofs
for 100 per cent proof

the house
where Carmen lived

spewing steam
into each dream

and those eyes of hers
we all talked about

so long ago
when love would crystallize

she was bad to the bone in her
zarzamora blue jean zippered shorts

and the westside cotton candy music
of her carnaval