O Mexico! by Devi Nina Bingham

O Mexico! The sweet sounds of traditions old 

on accordion, guitar, trumpet and tuba

and spicy tastes of cumin, cloves, and Menudo

a proud heritage not my own, despite your lack.

The fields upon your backs and children running barefoot,

the maids and housekeepers making it nice for me,

for the white money that is their smug savior

tossing pesos like pennies at the eager car parks

and with reserved smiles and lowered eyes you say, "Gracias, senor."

Sunshine always graces the beaches filled with white dough bodies

as an ever-present desert wind whips up 

just in time for fresh fruit margaritas and 

giant shrimp cocktails, and tacos of carnitas 

with white creme, green chilis, and red tomatoes.

The white of your flag stands for the Catholic Church who converted you,

religions of the indigenous ancestors 

buried now, but standing indominable 

in ruins where blood ran like rivers of sacrifice

as stores next to the pyramid sell trinkets, like sunblock.

And green for independence from the Americans 

who buy your goods as you say, "Bienvenido," which means welcome to our country.

And red for the blood of the Mexican heroes, refusing

to become our slaves, resisting even the Spanish 

who weaponized smallpox to destroy all and every

vestige of your civilization. O Mexico!

You have made peace with your tormentors. For your many talents,

peace-loving is what I would call you, and survivors. 

You forgot the past so you could have a future.

Who can blame you? Hold on, and keep holding on

to your pride as you bow respectfully to the Europeans 

and as Americans as your children dress in designer 

everything that's made in America.

The traditional sarapes and sombreros

are sold to the tourists while your children ask for

Nike tennis shoes that China manufactures. 

Swapping fashion for the Mayan and Aztec ways,

techni-gadgets are conquering history.

Every nation has traded its heritage in some form 

for survival, convenience, and progress. 

Rolling forward in step with humanity,

not to be left behind in the swift march of technology. 

Adaptable, always adaptable, this American admires who you are,

O Mexico!