sunset over dark seaside city
merengue bars spring to life
the glamor, the glitter, all is fake in this world
pretty women song and dance part of the show
pastels fading cracking and coming apart outside
40’s red car dirty and unloved missing a back window
once suggesting a better time
group of men standing and working on it like surgeons
don’t have the right tools for the operation
old man cotton blue pants, torn white dress shirt
sits on balcony thinking of better days
at least I think he is thinking of that, who knows?
children kicking faded misshapen soccer ball
empty downtown plaza among non-working fountains
aquamarine boat on crystal blue water sail away
walking down half paved half dirt side street
among ruins still inhabited by locals
then past an old cemetery and even older church
archways one tremor away from collapsing
held up by faith
hung-up wash in bus perfumed pollution brown air
old restaurant with sign; neon misplaced lost long ago
dribbled out onto street and washed away into drain
inside music spills into street from trio
of two acoustic guitars and pair of bongos
played by cigar smoking old men flawlessly
street parade carnival
celebrating something or other in the past
takes their mind off the present
