MEMOIRS OF DAMNISO LOPEZ, NO. 15

The Village burned.

Burned quickly by efficient machinery financed by American money.

Burned the priest who upheld the status quo,
His black cassocks turned red.
Burned this strange priest who wondered why a crow did not have an immortal soul.

Burned Dona, who spit in Luis' face because Luis was atheist.
Burned Leafo, the mediocre professor who studied German
So he could speak to the dead Adolf Hitler.
Burned Carlotta, who was watching her first communion dress in a cracked mirror.
Burned Jaimes, who imitated Americans by wearing oversized pants
Hanging low on his hips to the top of his red, white, and blue shorts.

All burned.