The Beer-drinkers of Peru (poetry)

The Beer-Drinkers of Peru
(From Lima to Huancayo)


The beer-drinkers sit near store steps, in bars,
any place at the fiestas under the sun. Their lack of achievement, and self inflicted poverty
has made them lazy. They move their newspapers like fans, to ward off
the warm weather; the frown of the sun has darkened their skin tone.Let us praise them on their dialogue though. One says "yes" and the other says "oh"
(and I doubt either one knows).
The afternoon must be long-drawn-out, forever,
because the night will be impossible for them to weather.They know that the bright sun seeps deep,
beneath the delicate surfaces of their skins so they remain dormant.Not a soul dares to make any abrupt commotion.Someone wants to say "stop,"
the other one murmurs "he better not?"The relatives remain silent: nearby.What do they dream of? Nothing?They dream of desires and they long for aggressivenessbut none takes place.They simply argue continuously, and then pass out
from a lack of energy.The day is finished: the night anticipates
tomorrow’s likeness.


#2148 1-13-2008 Note: I am not trying to make fun of my Peruvian comrades, only that it is sad to have to write what I feel is more than truthful. There is a very high rate of alcoholism in Peru, between 8 to 10 percent, are chronic alcoholics, and 80 percent drink. And there is much too much, death because of this, such as car accidents, and domestic abuse, and over the road, at night, bus drivers are commonly drunk, and accidents occur. The old folks drink a lot in the mountains near Huancayo for the lack of anything else to do. And I could go on and on, but it is an issue, and the beer companies feel they owe no responsibility to try and curve this massive issue. And so death by accidents will continue, and the police will do little about it, as will as the authorities, whom will look the other way, they have for ages so far.