One Last Poem For Richard

One Last Poem For Richard

de Sandra Cisneros

publicado en My Wicked, Wicked Ways

December 24th and we’re through again.

This time for good I know because I didn’t

throw you out — and anyway we waved.

No shoes. No angry doors.

We folded clothes and went

our separate ways.

You left behind that flannel shirt

of yours I liked but remembered to take

your toothbrush. Where are you tonight?

Richard, it’s Christmas Eve again

and old ghosts come back home.

I’m sitting by the Christmas tree

wondering where did we go wrong.

Okay, we didn’t work, and all

memories to tell you the truth aren’t good.

But sometimes there were good times.

Love was good. I loved your crooked sleep

beside me and never dreamed afraid.

There should be stars for great wars

like ours. There ought to be awards

and plenty of champagne for the survivors.

After all the years of degradations,

the several holidays of failure,

there should be something

to commemorate the pain.

Someday we’ll forget that great Brazil disaster.

Till then, Richard, I wish you well.

I wish you love affairs and plenty of hot water,

and women kinder than I treated you.

I forget the reason, but I loved you once,

remember?

Maybe in this season, drunk

and sentimental, I’m willing to admit

a part of me, crazed and kamikaze,

ripe for anarchy, loves still.