Chacarera del Patio

Painted by the lonely moon
topped with stars
beautiful are in my homeland
those earthy courtyards.

Old-looking courtyard
where my mom used to lay out
the bread she earned
washing in the washtub.

And for the carnivals
with firecrackers and chacareras
muddying little feet
we built trenches.

Chacarera of the earth
monkey-colored moon
sun full of tall grass
are courtyards of Santiago.

Sizzling siestas
of men, bugs, and plants
in tree-lined courtyards
become water and jar.

I must have drunk stars
that descended into my glass
on nights with friends
courtyard, song, and guitar.

Fireflies light up
the concert nights
of troubadour crickets
in the deserted courtyards.