Three Little Words

Border On My Side (Frontera de mi lado)

We walked the storm
with melted feet

chatting in
s l o w m o t i o n ,

our viscid
mouths

sealed
with thirst.

Our
burnt gazes

a f r a i d
to see the ghosts

in the darkness
of the path

in the emptiness
of dust and bones

until we
stumbled upon

the moist
lips of the river:

Rio Bravo
on my side,

Rio Grande
on your side.

No one
drank from

the muted
river;

our bronzed flesh
kept us warm

as we floated
in the water

resembling
small boats

splattered
with

fresh water /
salted water

we disembarked on
the other side on time—

Your side.
My side.