by Lorraine Caputo

Under the full moon 
a procession wends 
through the village 
 
At 14 altars 
the 14 stations of the cross 
decorated with flowers & candles 
they stop 
A woman 
waves copal incense in front 
A man 
says a prayer in Quek’chi 
The altar boys 
in white & red 
carry the crucifix & candles 
 
Next come the elders 
Then Christ 
in red 
carrying his cross 
upon men’s shoulders 
 
After them walk 
the congregation 
the priests 
& on-lookers 
 
Their voices rise in song 
in Spanish, in Quek’chi 

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.