The Sheltering Sky

As I lay dying with my head rested upon a plate of raw beans,
I boil my tears like I would boil water
in a pot over the stove.

Previously,

I chopped fresh tomatoes in a cutting board,
some onions, and seranos. I mixed them up.
I made "pico de gallo," except everyone loved guacamole,
but I was short on avocados.

I ran to the supermarket, the lines at the cashiers
were like at the bus station, kind of long...
but I did just like the ends of my hair, I split them up
by being careless...

....... ( I never was one to take care of my image,
the cracks in my fingertips spoke the truth,
my brittle skin never lied,
Though my clothes were always fresh,
hygiene wasn't the problem... I was sure.)

At the Cashier lines, everyone stared at me,
at my dark circles,
"are you okay?" that's all I heard.
Then I paid with nickels, coins, with whatever I could.
I ran home.
I chopped more tomatoes, more onions, and seranos.
I mixed them up. I made more pico de gallo.
everyone loved guacamole, I was sure...

except that I was careless,
I left the avocados at the store.
But this time, I stayed home
with my head rested upon a plate of raw beans,
with my tears almost boiling,
dying for a sky to shelter my shame.

February 17, 2015

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written L.L.

Fiction. Randomness.