Sunday Afternoon

Salvador
The afternoon sunlight
Is folding around us
The dishes are done

The buildings here
Tall as our mountains
Slice through the windows
And cut off the sun

On such days I find
I am longing for Puerto Rico
Though I never would return
'Til you are free

But when I hear the Aguinaldo
My heart's a little lighter
And we dance together Aurea and me

In my life, I've been
Unlucky with two husbands
Gumersindo liked his
Rum and women friends

Then that hypocrite who beat you
And preached about repentance
Has gone and so another Sunday ends

And tomorrow is another
Hard working Monday
I'm still hoping for
The raise they promised me

There's a job as operator
I would not have to wait for
If I could speak the language easily

But I tell Aurea
The barrio's boundaries
Are our own little nation
Sometimes, I hear you run upstairs

And I view my light with resignation
Keep your Bible near you
Time is an ocean of endless tears