está noche

the spirits will rise

my brother(s) and sister(s)

will give us a round

while we sleep

take a eyefull of velas we lit, their flames dancing in the stillness

in their ever-present names

the prayer in our hearts will seep into their own

a tiny altar, placed in that corner of our living room with fresh cut flowers (stolen from the front lawn)

and an offering of sweet yams, hearty pumpkin we put out, appreciated

although i did not have the opportunity to meet or know

they are a constant recuerdo of my existence

they were born just like me--too early

but they left this world before their firsts of everything

the resources of the living made me thrive

while they perished, encased in a shoebox, the most affordable in the poorest pueblo

a song about their birthplace begins with,

'no vale nada la vida

la vida no vale nada'

that it has no worth

i do not think that is true

for it holds an entity of cherished and grieving memories

ringing laughs, gritty unappetizing fails

that make us suckle the profound iridescent air

their names i'll whisper

not only tonight

on this remembrance day

but always in my running blood,

and in cuentos i will tell

---

Día de los Muertos--Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have passed on.

está noche--tonight

velas--candles

recuerdo--reminder

pueblo--town, village

'no vale nada la vida/la vida no vale nada'--lyrics from the song, "Camino de Guanajuato" which translates to: worthless life/life is not worth anything

cuentos--stories, tales