PACKING MY BAGS.

• Author: Alegria, Claribel
• Position: Brief Article

"The barbarians are arriving today."

--C. Cavafi

It's time to think about my baggage the suitcase is tiny my perfumes won't fit nor my necklaces much less my books. What will I take with me to the other side? Naturally the first lightning bolt that kindled our love I'll also take the razor glance of that child it wasn't for me nor for anyone blindly it grazed me and opened this wound that will not close. I must be selective in my memories carefully compressing those I pack and out of self-compassion abandoning the rest. I will take with me of course the afternoon in Cahill's Tavern. I told you about Sandino and Farabundo and you didn't understand but wanted to learn and little by little we wandered into the Halls of Los and you were William Walker and I Rafaela Herrera and what was I doing amongst the barbarians of the north who invaded us invade us now and will invade again? What was I doing far from Izalco far from my homeland? And the night kept falling quietly and we were there inside penetrating ever more deeply trapped by our pasts by our futures and your tongue is foreign I barely understand you what am I doing here? But I look at you and...