In My Barrio (An Improvised Tune)

In my Barrio
An abuelita
Sits on a
Breezy porch
Knitting
An elaborate sweater
For a weekend
Baby shower

In my Barrio
A mural of
The Virgen de Guadalupe
Adorns a
Liquor store’s
Outter wall
Where even
Gang graffiti
Doesn’t dare
Disrespect

In my Barrio
A Chevy lowrider
Cruises through
The avenes
Equipped with
Shiny rims
And a blasting
Stereo system
That rattles
Every window
It slowly passes

In my Barrio
Primos play
A game of
Futbol in the park
Pausing only
To buy an
Ice cream
From the local
Palatero

In my Barrio
A mother pushes
A loaded
Shopping cart
Home
As her
Daughter
Hums an
Improvised tune
And tightly holds
Onto a balloon string

In my Barrio
You do not
Need to know
A single word
Of English
To survive
But it helps
To roll your
R's with estilo.