On day of the dead Daddy hired the guitarists four
to liven up November first a tiny bit more
they came to our house and sat on our couch
one of them complained of comfort yelling out “ouch!”
I know what you mean, I said. I hate that spring too.
They played me a song – “Rapsody Day of the Dead blue”
My mother told me to stop making fun of her furniture though.
By the November second, they had returned down below.
We kept hearing the queen was here, but this parade was insane
Every person from ten thousand miles was here, dancing in the rain.
Which one is she? We asked, straining to figure this out.
Finally, we heard many using a confirming shout.
The Queen of the Day of the Dead Parade was sauntering by.
She was led by six horses with skull masks, I wanted to cry.
It was an amazing finish to a parade that lasted six hours.
We arrived back at our hotel six seconds before insane thunder showers.
November first. The Day of the Dead parade is easily seen.
Where is the queen? The kids are yelling. Where is the queen?
The dancers are two-stepping, with skull faces, happy and clean.
Mexican holiday, where remembering the dead is thought to be keen.
Day of the Dead Dancers appeared in Tijuana at nine
They are right on time! The crowd yelped. Right on time and fine!
Their dance was macabre, ghoulish, garish, difficult to track.
They stayed until daylight the next morning, then they went back.
I stayed up past midnight on Halloween night
Wanted to see a particular sight
Watched in the shadows, until I finally I saw the truth
Day of the Dead meeting Halloween; her name was Ruth
She snatched the calendar out of Halloween’s hand.
Next thing I knew, I heard a mariachi band
Halloween giving way to Day of the Dead is interesting to watch
My intuitive familiar told me; I call him Odd Ted; he's a splotch.
day of the dead bride dressed meticulously
She wanted to impress every human who could see
It would not be a lot, but it would be enough
She wanted to show them she had the right stuff
She had been all set to get married on her wedding day
But her groom had not shown up, an enormous betray
She hanged herself in the kitchen, a mistake she later thought
She wanted a bit of attention, forgiveness was not sought
Skeleton family knew they would have two feasts that week.
On Halloween they feasted on lamb chops covered with leek.
On Day of the Dead, they consumed turkey with gravy in a giant taco.
Their festivals lasted for a week, ending down in warm, happy Mexico.
Today they are dining on frog legs, which they think are divine.
Everyone is sipping on fruit flies, and enjoying pumpkin vine wine.
Even the children have a little taste of the liquor, I guess.
Every plate is licked clean, so there is absolutely no mess.
we knew at dusk that the day of the dead was officially on fire
a skeleton couple rose up from two different pyres
the audience was startled in place as they began to dance
they were soon surrounded by lookers, Old Emma and Lance
They had been married over sixty-two years, one onlooker said
It was a fine evening to watch them, on the Day of the Dead
They did the tango, the Watutsi, and a chicken dance too
Their keen dancing did not stop until a quarter after two
They were best friends in life, we knew they’d be back
This was said by Lance’s best man, he called himself Mack
My wife is gone too, but she does not dance any more.
We felt sorry for him, we could see he was sad at his core.
Día De Los Muertos
unlike Halloween
respect to loved ones who died * * * *
La Catrina lives
Day Of The Dead
Do you celebrate the dead?
They are laid to rest.
For those who live in the spirit world.
Have you seen the painted skull girl?
A celebration of those we have lost.
They are not forgotten.
Let’s have a feast.
Lay roses at their feet.
Put on the music.
Drink into the sun set.
This is our tradition.
Raise a candle, they are listening.
One day, we will meet again.
Have fun until then.
Remember them always.
This is our holiday.
Welcome back the souls of their deceased.
A reunion in the night that is brief.
It’s almost Halloween.
The souls of loved ones are dancing.
We can’t see you, but you can see us.
Cover the graves with flowers, one day we will be one.
Aha, it is Day of the Dead, November first.
The goblins, ghouls and witches run to quench their thirst.
Running to Mexico for another big night
Eating sugared skulls, quelching their appetite.
Wiley wicked warlocks and witches are arriving, high up in the sky.
The festival is magic, everyone is devouring potatoes and pie.
The demons are traveling through the city, stealing unsuspecting souls.
Having another wonderful night is truly one of our fantastical goals.
violins play me
onyx death saves parades me
celebrating life
My great great grandmother could not wait.
Day of the Dead was two weeks away.
She visited me on the 16th of October.
I was sworn to secrecy, but they knew.
Because I somehow knew how to do things
That only she knew how to do
Because she showed me
Her ways, and they recognized them
Will she return on the Day of the Dead?
They asked me as if I am the expert.
I do not know, I told them, frightened.
I was only four, making sugar skulls.
Day of the dead mushroom tree
Around and around skulls looked at me
I feel their spirits have gone off to play
And yet they still creep me out today
Three skulls drawn on by a skilled hand
I hear the remnants of a mariachi band.
Day of the dead mushroom tree
Do not send grim reaper after me.
Margaurita was always called challengingly short.
In the afterliife I will be tall, she would retort.
When I die, make my day-of-the-dead statue tall, she said.
Give me a scary toothy face, and a huge, oversized head.
We made this woman's statue twelve foot tall.
Her face was long, she was no longer small.
Do you think she knows? We asked each other.
Honoring the best we could, our sainted grandmother.
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