made in Madrid

today I bat the lake flies
as my family did twenty years ago.
I am alone as they were alone, only
I have money to buy my way
when they had to chisel theirs.

the stories are familiar ones
and no matter where I hear them
I feel equally guilty and inadequate.

the same waterfront cafés are
here, selling the same food
to the same bourgeoisies
but I am not thinking
of how to steal their left-overs
and am not planning on cooking
any revolting soup tonight.

I am, however, thinking
of my career—if
I will have one,
or how I can better feed
this puttering economy.
I am thinking that it is getting late
and that it was much more efficient
to have bought ten metro tickets
instead of just one.

far over Lago is where I live now.
I see the Tower of Madrid there
and the golden Crown Plaza Hotel.
I know that below them,
Plaza de España and
the Cervantes monument,

they are reminders of where I came from
and how much farther I've still to go.