Grease
He has eaten tablespoons of grease
a lifetime under the hood of cars
to change oil, lubricate, maintain
people’s cars, to earn a living,
enough to enjoy his favorite drink
at the neighborhood pub, a small local
bar, small things, small rewards,
the auto mechanic tied to a short rope
his dad once said, “Learn a trade
one day it might come to your help”
and Basil with his rachitic back still
stoops under the hood of old cars
screwing or unscrewing nuts or bolts
sighs or groans constantly heard
where fate has thrown him to live
his simple life patiently and
still recall when he started back
then, a young man optimistic about
his future, only to understand that
for some future meant subsistence
while others sleep in their satin
sheets and stretch their limbs as
if this privilege was only theirs
Libros Libertad 