Yesterday in Belize

Yesterday in Belize

A dog barked, a rooster crowed,

Laughter rocked across the tidal river,

And the sun rang its chimes

Through clarion air.

Yesterday at Altun Ha

The chachalaca hooted from a palm,

A coach-whip wove its eight-foot length

Amid the custard trees,

A tinamou whistled the half-hour.

Yesterday at Xunatunich

My severed heart was offered to Chac,

And the rains came,

And the Mayan gods smiled

And poked out their tongues.