by Lorraine Caputo
On this Santo Saturday the Virgin of Sorrows wends through the narrow streets of this white-stone city In this cool night, her podium sways atop the shoulders of two dozen men At her feet, a carpet of thick tapers flutters— the scent of beeswax & sweet white flowers, of pungent palo santo incense In that light gleam the embroidered gold threads the encrusted gems of her black-velvet cape & canopy Her crown & gold halo of fine rays, fine jewels sway in rhythm to the brass & drum band Surrounded by hundreds of faithful grasping candles, flickering flames illuminating their lips silently praying
Lorraine Caputo is a documentary poet, translator and travel writer. Her works appear in over 300 journals on six continents; and 20 collections of poetry – including On Galápagos Shores (dancing girl press, 2019) and Caribbean Interludes (Origami Poems Project, 2022). She journeys through Latin America, listening to the voices of the pueblos and Earth. Follow her travels at: www.facebook.com/lorrainecaputo.wanderer or https://latinamericawanderer.wordpress.com.