Estevan

I am 27 teaching college
At night working daytimes
As a hardhat work boots laborer
Doing carpentry removing plaster
From the long walls of an 1890s
Building on 6th street in Austin
The old Soldiers and Sailors
Pool Hall we are turning
Into a restaurant bar
So my friend and I
Have a helper to
Shovel debris
Into a big
Tub to
Haul
Away but
We are on break
Drinking soft drinks
Our dust masks pulled
Back on our head and we
Are warning Estevan our helper
That the architect who is paying
Him half wages on the promise
He will after a few weeks pay
Him full salary and refund
Money held back will
Only call la migra
Immigration to
Take him far
Away when
He tells us
About a
Retarded
Boy in Mexico
Who was teased
By holding up a USA
Nickel and dime
Laughing as the
Boy grabbed
The nickel
So Estevan told
Him two nickels make
One dime to which the boy
Replied that if he ever took the
Dime would they ever offer
Another nickel and then
Estevan smiles at us
As we are too dim
To see he knew
The game
Better
Than us
And minutes
Before la migra
Arrives Estevan vanishes.