Jetties Were The Bridges I Crossed
-for Salomon, Maria & Javier Mercado

I.

The Atlantic City Steeplechase Pier
Was the playground I ran in,
Scaled roller coasters as far as my eye could climb
Peered into deep mysterious seas
Sand mounds were the backyard
In which I dreamt,
Converted them to hills of snow
The ocean rolled up to meet

Jetties were the bridges I crossed
Dark-green and black
Majestic beyond their smoky veil of ocean mist

        I was often afraid for my father
        Who braved them in winter
        Sitting at their very edge
        Fishing for hours and for years
        His solitary tiny figure far off--

The Boardwalk
Was the unfinished hardwood floors of my home
Where I strolled for hours with Mother
Amid giant giraffes and
Clouds of cotton candy overhead

II.

(Massachusetts Ave School, USA)

In Massachusetts Avenue School
My hours were spent
In day dreams of Puerto Rico
Waves rolling up
To my second floor window

In Massachusetts Avenue School
As I gazed at the snowy sidewalk below,
Mr. Grant, my middle-aged white teacher
Bellowed into my ear
Smashing it to pieces

Fourth graders made easy targets
Little brown pegs hobbling
Around concrete school yards
Speaking Spanish to each other
I washed Mr. Grant's blackboards
Thinking this would buy my escape
But, I could not wash away myself
I could not wash away my family

III.

(En Mi Casa Toman El Pico)

The kitchen was the hub
From which all toil
And a splash of ignorance
Generated good memories
For the years to come

Spanish spilled over
Turkey preparations,
Chicharron & platano stuffing
And adobo spices
Brought the bird
Closer to the swine
Puerto Ricans preferred
On such occasions

My brother holed up in his room for hours
Played rock & roll
The lyrics danced inside my brain all night
Iron Butterfly
Jimi Hendrix
The Doors
Dance inside me
'Til this day.