Las Navidades in The Bronx

Las Navidades

Christmas time
in The Bronx
continues

Lights
flashing lights
light the way
from two family brick houses
to five story walk ups
to balconies
to the PJs

It's January 2nd
and the lights still glow
far and near
party over hear
Puerto Ricans are still
making pasteles

Our extended vacation from the mundane
Our extended Holiday festivities continue...

Thanksgiving
Christmas
New Jear's
El D¡a de los Reyes

La ra la la la ra
La la la la la la la la la la la la ra

Y sigue la parranda

Alegre con
alegria

Luces
y
el arbolito

So many memories

Mis recuerdos
como un manantial de coquito

Lagrimas entre risas
take me back to the time we were all together
in my beautiful Bronx childhood

Recuerdos de mi niñez Bronxeña
recuerdos de una puertorriqueña
de mi madre
de mi abuelita
y Titi Ana

Bailando con toda la familia
en la sala

Aguinaldos de Ramito
y la musica Navideña
Ismael Rivera cantando
a su T¡a Mar¡a que no bebia
solamente durante Las Navidades
y El Gran Combo cantando de Puerto Rico
a comer pasteles, comer lechon, arroz con gandules, beber el ron
Tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui
tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui ta
inter-mixed with the Jackson 5 Christmas album
Bing Crosby's White Christmas
The Sal Soul Orquestra and good ole' Nat King Cole

Childhood memories
of yesterday Christmas oldies and goodies
and the parties that continued way after Christmas
when everyone else had put their tree in the street
memories of all the things we took for granted
not knowing that we were rich
not knowing how fast time would pass
not knowing the memories we were creating
that we'd one day treasure
like gold.


Mariposa 2012