Antonio Clavijo

Do you know "that guy" in town that everybody tolerates but wishes he would just go away? From my Dad’s book Elementary motherland (Patria elemental).

Antonio Clavijo

           

Without the presence of Antonio Clavijo,

a long passage of history and some of what is already lost

could not have been written.

To paint a picture of you, Antonio,

Luis del Valle, now in the shadows,

gave me your address.

The central path in the cemetery

was your nightly walk. And among noises and sad souls

you imposed your leadership with liberal loquacity,

you, chief and rebellious actor.

Now you do not walk along the streets with your coat

(worthless walker stocked with all kinds of waste).

Now you are not the scandalmonger of your politic instincts,

nor do you fire triumphant rockets,

or visit the Parliament House, and you are not…

Soon it will be dawn, you will have to return to your hole,

while I remember you, Antonio,

among the many lost things…one of them you,

the Village Idiot.