crazy city

Observations In San Pedro Sula, Honduras.


Thousands of shoes in hundreds of stores
women aren´t supposed to wear shorts
a woman I saw with a bloated leg
oppressive heat, a few people begging
"Taxi taxi taxi!"
The lady has a shoeless foot.
Yes, and I can see it coming off.


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Pink salve, not salva vida
A lady lifts up her shirt, shows me fading red spots on her belly
See, it works!
20L is cheap, so I buy a jar
She makes a circular motion, to demonstrate application
An old man with a bale of dried herb ambles up
No, I can´t do that one too. One thing at a time.
Wait wait, ah yes. Yes I can see what...
...what you´re doing with the herb.
...Right, topically. A bath, I see. But no,
I really have all I can carry.
I do appreciate your kindness, all this extra time.
Yes, bath with it. Rinse? I see.
I´m afraid I´m not getting through to you.
I´m sorry about my Spanish.
Its woeful,
smaller and more dry
than the little herbal bundle
that you keep showing me.
Again sir, I´m sorry.
My dazed expression, my open mouth,
my shrugged shoulders
will have to suffice.
Thank you for helping
the infantile tourist


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