"FACINGFACES 2002 - 04" SELECTED POETRY

JUÁREZ

Dry country surrounds you,
a desert from which fear creeps
every night, through cracks in favela walls,
into women's hearts.

It comes with the wind panting
a hundred names: María, Teresa, Janeth,
the names of those who cried tears
the colour of blood,

whose bones splintered in the hands
of men, self-righteous and cruel.
Juárez, your wells run dry,
your colorful gardens wilt.

In this place, even children's laughter
has ceased to be innocent.



Michaela A. Gabriel
AUSTRIA
copyright 2002