Notes About The Poem

Translation:  The women who cross the river each day form a long line for "the migra" (immigration).  They show their permissions -- local (crossing) cards -- and they empty the contents of their purses.  When they are asked about their destinations, they answer with the phrases they have rehearsed:  I want to buy chicken on special, or my son wants tennis shoes from Wal-Mart.  Meanwhile, their "patronas" (bosses) for the day lie in wait, at a prudent distance, in their station wagons, with the motors running.  They are smoking impatiently.  Another Winston?

Day Servants -- Sirvientas Diarias

Listen to poem:
Las mujeres que cruzan el rio cada dia
forman una linea larga para la migra.
Muestran sus permisos -- tarjetas locales --
y vacian los contenidos de sus bolsas.
Cuando las preguntan sus destinos,
contestan con las frases que han ensayado:
quiero comprar pollo en especial,
o desea mi hijo zapatos tenis de Wal-Mart --
mientras sus patronas del dia acechan,
a prudente distancia, en sus camionetas guayin,
con los motores en marcha, 
fumando impacientemente.
Otro Winston? 


(For translation, see "About This Poem")
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012


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