I Still Remember My Tio Miguel... Poem by RIC BASTASA

grandpa used to scold him
despite his being old and weak
when he came back
poor as a rat

grandpa told him, Look at you now
Miguel, you reap what you sow
you have sold your inheritance and
squandered it with women and wine and
whatever

and you have nowhere to go
and you came back with nothing
but regret

my tiyo Miguel was silent
continued eating his breakfast
and then went to work
in the usual chores of the house

he sweeps the yard and tends
the garden and i was too young then
to fully understand

such a misfortune, and such a regret
such a mistake in his life but which he
never said a word as he combs my hair
and sends me to kindergarten school.