Santa Domingo

by Anisa Abeytia Yamani - Aquarius

The lights of casinos 
warm the nights 
like so many 
fireflies, 
stagnant against the air. 

Casino signs are alternated 
by the nightclub's neons, 
each one claiming to be the original home 
of merengue. 

After dusk, these once empty streets 
come alive with 
dancing feet, gambling hands. 
Dominicans prancing with visitors 
on the paved street of the capital 
gawk at the local heros, 
who have come home 
from the grassy fields 
of America. 

The ball players dance too. 
With rented children and 
their rented mouths 
take in the air filled 
with fireflies 

The beaches are lined with lights. 
But not by strobes or slots. 
Instead they are illuminated 
by the flashes 
and flickers 
of the sun's rays reflecting off of the 
soldier's rifles, held upright, 
used to keep their 
fellow countrymen 
back behind the 
line drawn in the sand 
between tourists and natives.
Birth sign: Aquarius
Date created: 2000-05-19 00:50:35
Last updated: 2021-03-03 14:42:15
Poem ID: 56113

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