Elegance In the Eye of Cartageña’s Pearl

Elegance In the Eye of Cartageña’s Pearl
       
Down from the misty mountains  
Where she labored    
Under the sign of the jaguar  
Beneath the jade sun  
Harvesting sacramental beans  
   
Lemon sunshine streets        
Of Columbian citrus dreams        
Where native lady flowers        
In rainbow dyed gown        
And cinnamon perfume        
       
She poses for pictures        
With strange American men        
An international diplomat        
Who speaks no English        
But knows the language        
Of a smile and hug        
For dollars from heaven        
       
That buy tortillas and beans        
To be steamed on her hearth        
To nourish young bones        
Into the thickness of banyan trees        
That survive the hurricanes of life        
       
As sun melts        
Into the dusky smoke        
Of Bougainvillea shadows        
That haunt her heart        
Like the distant marimba        
When the murmur of her children        
Echoes in the sueños        
Of her corazón