I worked hard for 10 hours today. It started at 4:34 AM. The day is over and here I sit in the shade of a palm tree my family imported from Mexico long ago.
It wasn’t a normal shade I sat under. The source of light was not the sun. It was neon, blue grape, floating in the sky, right here above Doña Ana, in New Mexico. She’s almost a full moon…
I’m not in prison anymore.
Still, in my work pants without a shirt, I can’t explain the wealth. I’ve such a different life.
I’m not imprisoned anymore!
I crossed my skinny arms as I reclined and smiled at the swing looking at me, hanging loose in the testy breeze.
I made that swing, with my mom, several months ago. I could never have done this.
If I stayed in prison.
Crickets hum away, easily forcing their crickly-crickle through the sneaky whooshing of traffic on the Interstate a block away.
It took a long time to say;
I’m not in prison anymore.
Damn, where are the echoes, the farting and snoring, the jangle of keys?
I listen calmly and hear dogs barking off in the distance. This hood soaks right through me.
Right now… no words to describe the peace.
Goodnight.
