Hombre

I am 19
Living near
Mexico City with
A Mexican family the
Relatives of my HS friend
Paul who is a mix of Cuban
German Mexican and we are
Exploring the capital with trips
To Acapulco and around the Vale
Of Anahuac marvelous adventures
When one evening I notice on the
TV schedule a program called El
Hombre Virgin which I suppose
Is about a priest but the TV is
Never turned on so I ask the
Sister of Paul what that TV
Show is about and she
Laughs and tells me in
The USA the show is
Called by the name
The Virginian a
Cowboy wild
West show
And I see
How
Blind I
Am here
In Mexico
Missing so
Much because
My Spanish is so little
And my ignorance so immense.
I survive on polite manners
Opening doors for ladies
Listening not talking to
People smiling with
Interest what I
Would later
In life call
Showing
Pleasant
Enthusiasm
In conversation
Dining exploring
In a society where
I am a curious outsider
Tolerated only by hospitality.
It is a lesson learned and
Thirty years later in a
TXDOT meeting far
Above my paltry
Pay grade when
I am asked by
Daffny Henry
What is the
Role and
Mission
TXDOT
Statements
I reply my role
And mission statements
At TXDOT have always been
Cinnamon and San Jose, smiling.
If you can’t be el hombre
Virgin then try to be
As el hombre
Innocente
Si possible pero
Maybe you just had
To be there at the time.