Jim’s Barn Tryptich, Right Panel, Pastel, by John Cummings
So he said
What does the Mexican say?
You had to be careful around Ray Peters,
“Si, todo con cuidado,”
He says yes, he’s agreeing with you, I said.
Peters had cold eyes, and it was his ranch,
And the Mexicans stepped lightly around Peters,
Like stepping around a rattlesnake
“Dile que si tiene trabajo?” the man asked,
And Peters again asked, What does he say?
Wants to know if there is any work? I replied.
Hell, yeah, there’s work,
If he wants to work! Tell him.
Don’t know why Peters distrusted Rogelio,
I had told him he was a good man,
But Mr. Peters wanted you to be a firebreather
At least a little bit, but Rogelio was gentle.
Peters didn’t trust you if you were too good,
Had been burned by crafty men with kind eyes
Who burned his wheat field and stole
His money. So he said.
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Zeke Sanchez