The Good Old Days
On the red clay of infancy
where each step was joyful,
new and could be the last,
where dry thistles now crunch underfoot
because without water, nothing else grows,
he used to cultivate a garden,
its perfume more tangible than apples.
Eve would have never abandoned it
because watermelons bloomed easily,
balloons of green overalls, indecent inner
parts we cut into wedges and ate
without restrain.
We cut down our palm tree
the one flashing her hyperbolic beauty
eliciting smiles towards heavens’
highest clouds curving
exactly like cherubins’ bottoms.
We cut down the palm tree’s
festive expression,
her strong arms of dancer
dancing the dance of fire.
We admired the hues of her green heart,
we kissed dates under her fronds,
we feared the wind spreading ambers.
We cut down our hyperbolic beautiful palm tree.
The Surprise (Haibun)
Since our braids no longer hang like wet mops on our backs and the service was slow, our mother agreed that we could do it, so, we dragged two see-saw tables, covered them with white linens and placed them under the shade of the arbor.
Guests were already coming to our Summer’s End Celebration Party. Tresky kept an eye on the steaks, lamb chops, morcillas and longanizas* nicely arranged on platters, salads were still on the kitchen, drinks at the bar, while cold and hot appetizers were being served. I told my sister to watch Tresky’s unblinking eyes fixed on the meat. The cook placed a small medallion of
all-i-oli on each plate and some people leaked their fingers discreetly. The marble of the patisserie’s table overflowed with desserts and fruits in addition to two halves of a fantastic watermelon resting at the center coloring the pale creams, custards and gelatos.
After the guest sat at the table the noise of conversation rose to a crescendo. Kataplum, plum! Backs turned to the bar’s direction where nothing appeared amiss. Forty minutes later, the first people walked to the dessert table to face Tresky’s muzzle inside the almost empty shell of half watermelon.
now it is obvious
dogs prefer watermelon
to juicy lamb chops
• Both types of popular sausages in Spain
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