I see dogs on the streets
rib cages poking through the skin
pelvic bones threatening to burst through
sniffing the cracks of the calles
searching for whatever was left behind
I see sleeping borrachos
cuddling their empties
moaning, dreaming
waking and pidiendo más, solo uno más
I see children playing futbol
with plastic balls or bottles
while their mothers yell,
"Don't hurt the americana!"
As I walk by.
I see men with cumas and machetes
shirts stained with sweat and dirt
sitting on the side of the road
laughing and sucking on sugar cane
eating their lunch with (at least) two tortillas
taking a break from the day's labor
I see acres and acres of caña de azucar
where there could be acres and acres of food and forest
I see campesinos burning through plots,
something they've been convinced will "clean" the land
riding the soil of every bit of life, down to the micros.
The U.S. government ha regalado free hybird seeds (courtesy of Monsanto)
which, in order to grow effectively, need chemicals
(we're convinced we need MiracleGro for the miracle of life to grow)
I see people planning to cross the border,
wanting to escape the suffocation of poverty, violence, and hunger.
A spark of hope flashes in their eyes when they talk about the promise of los Estados Unidos
believing if they can just cross the border, they can escape this hell they're living.
If only they knew what awaits on the other side...
I see us (the U.S.) aprovechando this wealthy land,
buying land to grow bananas to sell back home.
The money going in and out of the U.S.,
with the pickers barely making enough to get by.
