some
days the poetry goes out of you
this
morning's walk in the park
to
look over the city of Santiago
could
inspire me but all I feel
is
tired legs
there's
a plaque signed by Charles
Darwin
on one of the huge rocks
old
worn by years of earthquakes
and
erosion the steps go up wind
down again
down again
an
agave with its giant shoot
heading
for the sun or moon
I
get lost in the maze of paths
end
of at the wrong end
of the park
of the park
this
is the land of the Pre-
Columbian
people who mummified
the
dead 3000 years before
the
Egyptians they made beautiful
pottery
weaving
cloths with complex
patterns
representing the visions
caused
by the native hallucinogens
three
days ago a similar cloth for sale
in
the market
what
begins as a very ordinary day
ends
with thoughts of the old people
of
Tierra del Fuego their pride
and
later demolished ways after
missionaries come
missionaries come
* The last two photos were taken in 1923 and 1924 respectively both by Martin Gusinde as part of the exhibition Los espiritos de la Patagonia Austral at Bellas Artes, Santiago.
Tired legs, yes. But how I wish I was there. And since I'm not, your poem will do more than suffice. Thanks.
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