it was all in the way you
carried yourself before
i set out i shined
my own shoes
so the populace
could see my work
my battered wingtips
with the laces busted
they walked much
but got nowhere
and still i stumble
through callejones
and cantinas
of my memory
searching for me
with an old shoe shining box
strapped to my shoulder
asking drunk men
“shine your shoes?
shine your shoes?”
but the drunks have
no money to shine
their shoes and they
send me to buy them
some smokes instead
and i run and get the smokes
and steal one for my ear
and by the end of the day
i manage to hustle
a few pesos
and i walk home
smoking that cigarette
counting them
Jose Pepe Arroyo
aiurea press 