SLC, Utah, rumblings 
                            25 de noviembre de 1980

           Once


once
long ago,
then
when my face
was fresh, un-bearded,
i used to make up words 
for the worlds 
i would dream,
           life in my barrio 
           was a joyful thing sometimes, 
           and words
           would come and go,
                    and i would sing 
                    nonsensical things
of when the world
was dinosaurs
and flying chickens

and all the people
were neither tiny, big nor medium size, 
they were just people 
who loved to dance, sing, 
and oftentimes 
ride
upon the backs
of monkey-like horses,
it was easy then
to sing
for i was young and full of life, 
not that the youthful energy i had 
has gone, mind you, 
no, no, it hasn't, 
it's just
that my songs now
fly


into soup, watermelon syrup, 
and other funny things, 
so i try to keep things simple, 
if you please, 
and in so doing find 
that i need 
once more 
to return 
to long ago 
childhood dreams 
in order to be free, alive 
and able to sing 
those dreams 
which hide
within my funny adult brain. . . .