Windows on the World
Alabanza: In Praise of Local 100
by Martín Espadafor the 43 members of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 100, working at the Windows on the World restaurant, who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center
Alabanza. Praise the cook with the shaven head
and a tattoo on his shoulder that said Oye,
a blue-eyed Puerto Rican with people from Fajardo,
the harbor of pirates centuries ago.
Praise the lighthouse in Fajardo, candle
glimmering white to worship the dark saint of the sea.
Alabanza. Praise the cook’s yellow Pirates cap
worn in the name of Roberto Clemente, his plane
that flamed into the ocean loaded with cans for Nicaragua,
for all the mouths chewing the ash of earthquakes.
Alabanza. Praise the kitchen radio, dial clicked
even before the dial on the oven, so that music and Spanish
rose before bread. Praise the bread. Alabanza.
More “literature of 9/11,” a course I’m teaching this semester. Sent to me this morning by my friend and colleague Eva Woods.
Amitava, the whole poem is just beautiful; visitors to your blog should follow the link and read the rest of it.
Thanks for pointing is to it. Alabado seas tú.
Comment by Filmiholic — April 10, 2008 @ 4:29 pm