Most of What I Know About Spain

for Stetson Kennedy

Most of what I know about Spain

I learned from Señora De Cubas

and Garcia Lorca.

Caroline, who tried so valiantly

to teach us that Ser describes

a condition. Estar, an essential

quality.

Federico, who captured

the Andalusian moon and the light

on the balustrades

so beautifully, he was dragged away

by La Guardia Civil

and shot for his trouble.

"I will always be on the side

of those who have nothing

and are not even allowed

to enjoy the nothing they have

in peace," he said. I have never

visited Franco's tomb, but,

I feel sure that that phrase is not

engraved there.

Most of what I know about America

I learned from Señora De Cubas

and Garcia Lorca.

If you try to move a thing

from its condition to its

essential quality,

if you take the side

of those who have nothing,

someone will take a shot

at you.

Most likely they won't have anything

either, except a gun,

and the vague feeling

that they've already lost.

And they have.

All that's left to do

is the engraving.

December 6, 2015