Estival

My wife teenage son
And I are shopping at the
Old market in Mexico City, 1978
When we see a Dallas lady hauling
Her cab driver around to help her
Shop calling his name so loudly
Other cabbies standing in the
Open-air arches around the
Market quietly laugh softly
Causing Estival to slide
Out of the market to
Drive off while the
Dallas lady calls
ESTIVAL like a
Foghorn thus
Sending birds
Flying up off
The eves
But no
Response
From Estival
So the Dallas lady
Screams Estival Estival,
Estival, get your head in the game.
But only silence hangs in the air
Estival is long gone and my
Son learns a lesson on
How not to act as a
Guest in another’s
Country while my
Wife and I look
Up smile and
Exchange
The look,
Lucky
Estival to
Have escaped.