The sounds of the night...
Close my eyes,
Breeze on my face,
Traces of air
Singing rhythm across my skin.
Sounds of laughter.
The wind howls
Through the abandoned buildings.
Whistling lonely songs
Of better yesteryears.

Alley cats
And garbage cans,
A chorus.
Sounds of Salsa
And happiness.
Mami and Papi
Smiling, dancing,
Leaving strife till tomorrow.

Smells of liquor,
Urine spilt on the floor.
Smell the rain
In the air,
Threatening a cleansing,
A new chance,
Or a change.
The wind making my hair
Come alive.
Chango's daughter,
Yemaya's child,
Far from the motherland
And on the wrong side of the ocean.
Moon shining on my shoes.

Close my eyes...
Children sleep,
Dogs bark.
Sounds of water
Cascading into the sewer.
Mama, is that you?
Sounds of sirens-
"No, papi, please don't!"
in the distance.

Close my eyes...
Breeze on my face,
Empty streets and closed gates.
Cans rolling
With the wind.
"Espiritu Santo, Proteje nos"
Close my eyes
To the sounds of El Barrio.

Valerie M. Russo