And this last poem is a bit of an interactive poem.
So it's kind of a call and response thing.
So when I say in the poem, say with me now,
and then I'll say the word, and you respond back to me
that word.
It'll be in Spanish.
So for those who knew Spanish, good for you.
For those of you who don't, this is a chance for you
to learn a few words.
"Word Assimilation" Say with me now "burro."
Burro.
And say with me now "guey".
Guey.
There you go.
Ass and ox-- beasts that bear your burden.
Now, whisper this-- "hermosa".
Hermosa.
Very good.
Beautiful-- she's beautiful.
That's her there, wandering quietly
through rooms, a cart of housekeeping at each door.
She empties my ashtray, makes up my bed, hangs fresh towels.
Now, say with me--
"esposo".
Esposo.
Husband-- hers.
She smiles with him in the basement
as he pulls used cotton from her cart,
feeds it by the armload to industrial wash and detergent.
So Marisa, smile.
There's one on each tired face in these quiet intersections
of labor before lunch.
Juntos, together, them on a sunny bench behind the Mirage
Hotel.
Comiendo thin ham, jamón, ham on rye,
boiled eggs, papitas, cold soda from the fourth floor machine
where it's mysteriously a quarter cheaper.
Viviendo en un momento, por el momento.
In the moment, for the moment.
It's not hard to romanticize them,
their hands, their hearts.
Not hard.
But more than that, it's wrong, wrong
to belittle their courage for the eighth--
ninth time, packed in a van with sweat and worry,
17 people, a 4:00 AM crossing when the moon's gone cold.
Esta vez, esta vez si vamos a llegar.
Si vamos a empezar.
Si vamos a escapar la vida inútil.
And by van, and by bus, by truck bed, by train, and by foot
all the way to Las Vegas--
the plain's high neon chaparral.
Now, stay with me, "hermano".
Hermano.
Brother, his brother-- with a foothold foot in the door,
door held open--
puerta abierta abrazo embrace.
Theirs, the brothers.
Bienvenidos.
Trabajo mañana, tan pronto y para los dos.
If you're looking for truth here, it's only in passing.
If you're looking for me, I was never there.
If you're looking for them, imagine no English.
If you're looking for work, see me at the door."
Thank you all for coming tonight.
[APPLAUSE]