Poems by Rufino Colón

Poems by Rufino Colón

MAN-CHILD

The child running wild, screaming at the top of his lungs, “I am a man!” while the parents of the world look on in amusement and appeasement. “Yes, you are, my son. Yes, you are.”

As man-child I have nothing to say, but I am going to say it anyway.

I am not a poet, but invite you to my verses of happiness and sadness, victories and defeat, so that you may know you’re not alone.

Man-child, man or child, today I’m alright being me.

I may not be a great lover, but I’ve learned to love me greatly.

Man-child. Man-child.

DENIED!

If you ask me not to grieve you… Denied!

If you ask me not to think of you… Denied!

If you ask me to blame you… Denied!

If you ask me to forget you… Denied!

If you ask me to stop loving you… Denied! Denied! Denied!!!

When I asked to see you one more time… Destiny denied!

I’m asking to find your grave. So far, denied!

If you ask me to give up looking for you… Hell no!

RUN, BOSTON, RUN

Run, Boston, Run on Patriots Day. Run, Boston, Run, to celebrate who you are. Run, Boston, Run, for those lost limbs.

Run, Boston, Run, for the child who asks for peace so that we may stop hurting each other… for the young lady that will never bless us with her beautiful smile… for the student who will never get to enjoy the fruits of her labor.

Run, Boston, Run, for the senior who was knocked down and got back up just as fast—that’s who you are, that’s the American way: bombs, 9/11 can knock us down, but can’t keep us down.

Run, Boston, Run as your hero turns toward danger through the campus of MIT to protect us—isn’t he as much a hero as those who died in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Run, Boston, Run—let the world witness the courage of our first responders running in the direction of the explosion, knocking down barriers— thinking not of their own safety, but of who they can help.

Run, Boston, Run—like all Americans, we run for sport, but NEVER run for lack of courage.

Run, Boston, Run as you approach the finish line— the explosion of hatred tried to defeat you. NEVER!

RUN, BOSTON, RUN!