Francisco X, a brief moment con tu sonrisa:
by Aida Salazar
*All Copyrights Reserved 2016

I saw your smile tonight
On the face of a man, dancing
In the Mission - though it rained 
He danced to trumpets
Un son, that I only hope 
reached you in the cosmos
But it wasn't you
Could never be you
Missing was the caracol shaped
Flower glyph that floats before your lips
Outside, a cielo in sorrow 
Because only the music of your flores remains
Spun stories read aloud to children, to us 
The steady beat of a Nahuatl myth on our ticking hearts
That despite that warmth, feel your absence, your physical impermanence,
penetrating 24th St. and Bryant,
Slapping drops of 
Rain, like loss, falling.

---

Ten Years Around The Sun 
by Aida Salazar
*All Copyrights Reserved 2015​

Avelina, 
Ten years around the sun of my heart 
skipping a soliloquy of song along your path 
with your great strength, 
the deep honey brown knowing in your eyes, 
and a courage the color of fire. 
You save my life daily, a balm that calms 
the ache for a once lost daughter that 
emerges for me especially in May. 
May, your favorite season for 
peaches, and cherries and 
perfect cool hot weather.  
I count my blessings in plucked flower petals, 
that you chose us,
and grew in my body, 
and now in our home,
enchanting us with 
the grace of your dance, 
the grace of your voice, 
the grace of your fortitude, 
the grace of your love.