Most of What I Know About Spain

for Stetson Kennedy

Most of what I know about Spain
I learned from Senora De Cubas
and Garcia Lorca.

Caroline, who tried so valiantly
to teach us that Ser describes
a condition. Estar, an essential
quality.

Federico, who captured
the Andalusian moon and the light
on the balustrades

so beautifully, he was dragged away
by La Guardia Civil
and shot for his trouble.

“I will always be on the side
of those who have nothing
and are not even allowed

to enjoy the nothing they have
in peace,” he said. I have never
visited Franco’s tomb, but,

I feel sure that that phrase is not
engraved there.

Most of what I know about America
I learned from Senora De Cubas
and Garcia Lorca.

If you try to move a thing
from its condition to its
essential quality,

if you take the side
of those who have nothing,
someone will take a shot
at you.

Most likely they won’t have anything
either, except a gun,
and the vague feeling
that they’ve already lost.

And they have.

All that’s left to do
is the engraving.

–December 6, 2015