Nuestra Revolution
Emilio Aldrich
Revolution came a-courtin’
Last Friday afternoon
Like Robespierre’s rapture
This Lenin lovely
Flitted through my parlor room.
And behind him trailed softly,
Two orphans sallow skinned
Our diseased darlings
Heartbreak’s heroes
All scaly blisters and gap toothed grins.
And to these darling dears,
Revolution beamed a generous smile.
This Gandhi goader
And Marley mobber
Wasting little lives while the while.
For over tiny heads they raised,
A faded banner reading, “Down
To Tyranny’s Terror
And Conservative Caution!”
Boney limbs breaking, I could hear the sound.
Hours work went to that banner,
Little hands stunk from greasy paint
Moldy manitos,
On pasty paper
His message blotted and faint.
For when I stared at los niños,
The truth came all too clear:
My peace’s progress,
Their humanity humbled.
My face reflected in the parlor mirror.