To Cartageña, With Eternal Love - Rewrite

To Cartageña, With Eternal Love

“Marlon, I sewed your pocket.
Why not fill it up with tips?”
“My ancestors fought in the war of liberation from Spain.”
“What in the world does that have to do with you in the present?
At least you could tell the Americans
that we don’t have welfare in Columbia
and that tips are appreciated.”
“Our pantry is always well stocked.
There is no need to abase myself for pennies.”
“You are the best tour guide in this city.
You deserve a gratuity.”
“Most of them do anyway. No need to mention to them the obvious.”

Greeted at the Jungle portal to Cartagena
Where monkeys climb and flamingos sunbathe
By man whose soft brown face earns our trust
When he leads us to feel the dragon pulse
Within the colonial labyrinth of marble
Like children
On a return to innocence
As Marlon spins legends
Into fables of love
With warm eyes

Deep in Spanish alleys
He unveils the mysteries
As timeless and ageless
As the rare pearl
From the Rosario Islands
Who is the wife he speaks of
When his smile glows like lapis lazuli
In the sweet Cartagena sun

“What was your most generous tip?”
“Once a woman gave me a $100 tip
In exchange for my forgiveness.
I bought your ring for our ruby anniversary
with her tip.
I wanted you to think I’d saved for it.”
“What in the world did she do to you, my love?”
“She told me she once was the queen
Of a realm of milk and honey.
But I was the troubadour of her heart.
Even so I belonged to another lady.”
“Who held your heart in the crucible, my man?”
“You were the one who inspired
The queen’s jealousy.
And so the choice she gave me was
To shun you and be hers or be exiled to the New World with you.
That is how we ended up here in Cartagena together.
It was such a cool scene that during our in between times in heaven
We kept choosing to be reborn together here through the centuries.”
“You are the best real estate agent of the soul
ever, my love. This is our spot to squat.
Now, tell me why you chose me over a life of luxury with the queen?”
“Not every woman shares the blanket like you.
Besides, the queen was vain.”
“Well, we save on lipstick since I don’t use it.”
“Gaudy is the furthest thing from my mind when I think of you.”
“You always were the best bean on the tree.
The fire in that ruby is a horoscope of devotion
No matter what star we are born under in the future.”