A year ago, we choose Spain
from the dropdown menu, scrolling past Australia, England, and Italy, stopping
when the haunting voice of Valencia cried ahora, pare.
We were welcomed as strangers
and accepted as friends, claiming her streets and breathing her beauty while
she exclaimed amigos, dale.
I trained my tongue to mimic
her sounds as she laughed, ¡chica,
hable!
She amazed me with her beauty
and life and taunted me with ¡aquí, mire!
I laughed, and enjoyed her
ease, her grace, and her encouragement as she voiced, si, disfrute.
When I cried, she held me
close and whispered softly cariña, respire.
When I was tired, I slept as
she offered, paz, descanse.
I saw her sun, and smiled and
basked as she encouraged, así, mejore.
I grew inside, my heart
swelling with hope and confidence and she remarked por
fin, sabe.
I watched my children grow
and mature in her assurance and safety as she promised me las tengo, calme.
She protected my protector
and loved my lover with her quick-witted ¡chico, anime!
Then time cast a spell on me,
I blinked, and she began to fade. I
cried, ¿Valencia, dónde?
She sensed my fear and
stepped in with a comforting aquí, tranquilize.
I can’t say goodbye to
something that has become a part of me, and offer back only a meek por favor, quede.
Then we smile at each other
and I thank her for everything. Vale, Valencia, vale.
