Poems by
Rufino Colón
FEAR! FEAR! Back to you— You enslaved me with drugs. Back to you— You made me feel dumb when I was a child. Back to you— You made me feel not good enough as an adult. Back to you— Even today, you creep into my mind and create doubt. Back to you— But you don’t own me anymore. So again, back to you— Goodbye. I hope you don’t find anyone to spook anymore. Bye-bye!
NIGHT! Night, lovely night, when I can say what I dare not say during the day Night, lovely night, when I can look into your eyes and see the stars Night, lovely night, with your beautiful dark Spanish eyes Night, lovely night, so lovely that even the sun takes time off to let you shine Night, lovely night, they say you drape mystery, but truth be told, that’s when all is revealed
THE GREAT THINKERS OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY You know, the ones who think that if you don’t give out condoms, young people won’t have sex. You know, the ones who think that if you don’t give out clean-needle kits, people won’t shoot drugs. You know, the ones who think that if you don’t think a certain way, you’re an enemy of the state. You know, the ones who think that if you don’t praise their God, you are going to hell. You know, the ones who think that if you don’t love who they think you should love, you’re a sinner. You know, the ones who think that if you don’t love war for the sake of your country, you’re unpatriotic. You know, the ones who think that HIV/AIDS was God’s punishment for our sins.
SITUATIONS 17
