Pedro

You highjacked my heart
Asking for gum and hugs
In a language I couldn't even
Pretend to speak

But through endless games
Of charades and bilingual counterparts
Eagerly willing to translate
We were able to communicate
And build bridges over the
Far stretching language gap

My amigo Mexicano,
You have the saddest eyes
But they sparkled with hope
When I spoke to you
In broken Spanish saying softly
"eres hijo amado de Dios"

You are a hand-made-masterpiece,
A one-of-a-kind piece,
A no-other-like-you piece,
And you calmed my heart with
A cherish-all-of-life peace.

I hope that the blanket
(Your first to ever sleep under)
Keeps you warm during
Those cold Mexican nights
And I hope that
Learning to read will allow
Hurcules to be as magical for you
As it once was for me

You are so much more a man
Than half of those in America
Who possess a Y chromosome
And who claim to be the only ones suitable
To make decisions in their home
And, Amor, you are only seven years old

You are poco
My Pedro
But you are strong
Smart
Resourceful
Resilient
Insightful
Independent

Please forgive me
For not being able to tuck you away
In my big red suitcase
And for not sticking around
More than eight days
Even when you begged
Me to not go away

I know your memory of "Winsey"
Will fade as you age
But in my reassembled heart
Your name will always be engraved
Along with a still frame of your smile
And the sheet music to your laugh

My silly and sweet hermano
Listen to your American hermana
We are not united
By simple flesh or bone
But by Christ's blood and
I may not make it back to Mexico
But there is one thing that I know:

Someday we will reunite
In our Lord's heavenly home.