I'm taking a long look at you, because I have a big debate
to make about which poems to do tonight.
And that's one of the hardest things about a reading,
is try to figure out what would be the right match
for this audience.
As most of you know, who have read much of my work,
I am both madly smitten by this landscape
and deeply frustrated by its history
and what still goes on in the present.
A couple of years ago, I happened
to see an article in the Christian Science Monitor
about the border.
I'm always fascinated at descriptions of the border
when you're from there and you're far away.
And the comment in the article was that la migra--
and of course, it went on to define la migra for people
not from the border, the Immigration Services.
People in Mexico refer to it as la migra.
People along the border refer to it as la migra.
That this struggle between the forces of the immigration
service and the people trying to come
into this country for various reasons
had become a struggle in the way that once Cowboys and Indians
were a struggle.
And the reporter said, in fact, now on the border,
you might expect to see children playing, instead of Cowboys
and Indians, immigration officer, and the person trying
to flee.
So I started thinking about what those voices might sound like,
"La Migra."
"One.
Let's play la migra.
I'll be the border patrol.
You be the Mexican maid.
I get the badge and sunglasses.
You can hide and run, but you can't get away,
because I have a Jeep.
I can take you wherever I want, but don't ask questions,
because I don't speak Spanish.
I can touch you wherever I want, but don't
complain too much because I've got boots
and kick if I have to.
And I have handcuffs, oh, and a gun.
Get ready, get set, run.
Two.
Let's play la migra.
You be the border patrol.
I'll be the Mexican woman.
Your Jeep has a flat.
And you have been spotted by the sun.
All you have is heavy hat, glasses, badge, shoes, gun.
I know this desert, where to rest, where to drink.
Oh.
I am not alone.
You hear us singing and laughing with the wind.
[SINGING] Agua dulce brota acqui, acqui, acqui.
But since you can't speak Spanish, you do not understand.
Get ready."