Behind the glass of the Ole Ole Restaurant
a mannequin Mexican stands sentry
twitching moustache and sombrero.
His rainbow-woven poncho drapes
exotic commercial viability:
tamed, idealized, fetishized.
Across the street,
in ragged jeans crouched,
tired brown men wait
along the sidewalk
for the next job.
They pace and patch the borders
of someone else’s
American dream.
RED GLADIOLA 
The image that your poem brought to my mind – the romanticism of native people and cultures, for greed and commercial profit. It is these people that need a voice to spread the reality of their existence.
So true. I agree completely. Thank you for reading.
Makes you wonder about this world….
There is so much that is unfair and strange about it.
Yes there is.
Nicely done! This one pushes all my hot buttons. The last stanza with its “…pace and patch the borders” double entendre is marvelous!
Ron
Thank you! I’m so glad you caught that. I definitely meant it have the connotations you found. =)
I love your social justice commentary in this on the commoditization of other people’s cultures and heritage. The imagery is beautiful!
Thank you! It was staring at me in the face and I just had to say something about the incident.
felt like kerouac, but not in text rather in spirit. lovely write-up.
Thanks! I’m honored you thought it was reminiscent of another poet. ❤
There is great compassion in this poem. Well done! I am eager to read more of your posts. Many thanks.
Glad to have you here. Thanks. ❤
It’s hard to improve on what has already been said, so I won’t, other than to say that it is an image that will stay with me for a long time.
Thanks! Glad it left an impression. =)
This is a word painting that resonates. 😀
Thank you! ❤
Well done, though it saddens the heart.
Thanks!
Excellent description of the plight of the Latinos in our culture! Thank you!
Thanks! I’m glad it was a realistic portrayal. =)
Wonderful, it is beautiful and sobering at the same. I love the way you speak up for people.
Thank you! ❤