Poverty’s prayer

Poverty’s shoes, if any.

Poverty’s house, falling down.

Poverty’s hard bed. Poverty’s sticks,

Poverty’s thin cat,

poverty’s dog and its fleas,

its leg in a dirty grey bandage.

Poverty’s bread. Poverty’s dust

Poverty’s mice and cucarachas.

Poverty’s rice, poverty’s beans.

Por favor

bring me the head of an American president

on the green platter of a dollar bill.

 

[Havana, 2003]