music of the swings

sweet sounds saturating the playground

off the square,

Puerto Peñasco early morning harbor breeze

stretching from dizzy sleep,

voices singing in new languages

music of the swings

metal hesitating onto metal,

braided long black hair swinging,

pelican swings,

long trains passing through yet another plaza,

everybody’s a train

swinging in time with the music,

and the children are saved

as once again

the music frees

what the music touches

Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico,

1980