Last Post from Guanajuato

HACIENDA SAN GABRIEL DE BARRERA

(construction completed in the late 1600’s by the owner of the Valenciana Mine)

Ground Floor

Resident shadows

sombras residentes

Rooms where even the young are old

Rooms haunted by martyrs and the ever suffering Christ

Sex haunted

Haunted by whimpering

And all the secrets money could buy.

Family Quarters

second floor

Windows

dust motes in slanted light

Opulence

gold & silver & lace

Unbloodied portraits

la familia

Bright footsteps and chatter

All the comfort money could buy.

The Grounds

Ablaze

sun and color

exotica

Sparrows Doves

Fountains

Saint Francis and The Virgin

forgiving sins

All the garden money could buy.

The Chapel

The sad and private chapel

Miners

trapped

in the gold

encrusted

on the altar

and

all the dark voices

voces oscuras

money

couldn”t

buy.

RW

Guanajuato, Mex.

14 February 2018