How can I believe this?
No, of course not,
such a thing is not possible.
My mother gone
nothing left
but this old empty box
in my hands
the inheritance she left for me
empty space
enclosed
by four small
wooden walls.
So I find the secret compartment
and inside I discover three bracelets of gold
two rosaries, a crucifix
a few dirty trinkets of coral
and some paper:
official documents proving
that La Marquesa owed her money
more than enough to purchase
my freedom
even though it has already been paid for
and ignored.
Who could have guessed?
That my mother owned a horse, then a colt,
then more
all of them sold to my owner
in an effort to save enough wealth
for me to purchase official documents proving
that I own
myself.