by Lupe Mendez
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After Martin Espada
Alabado sea Ms. Salazar, the diplomat, the peacemaker,
an archivist, the administrative assistant, she tells you
the time of day or where you are supposed to be by
looking at the sky out her window, by making a phone
call; an oracle when no one knows the way the world works.
Alabado sea Ms. Hernandez, sentinela, a cypher, the first
face you see when you come in, she answers every call,
the receptionist, runs Driver’s License numbers,
gives you passage, between this world and the next,
a Charon who trades your coins, gives you a visitor’s pass,
sets you free, sets you free, sets you free.
Alabado sea Ms. Torres, la enumerator, the demographer,
the attendance clerk, the gardner, knows every name,
every face, every seed, every child who meanders,
asks you to know them too, asks you, pleads with you,
who is here?, who isn’t?, makes you care about the body;
because without the child, how will you know what to teach?
Alabado sea Mrs. Herrera, the messenger, the tax lady,
la contadora, the finance clerk, the way she collects
all of you, all your money, saves it in the nooks of a safe,
your fortune, she the school genie, wishes you well,
she makes your dreams come true; the budget queen.
Alabado sea Ms. Mendoza, the paper wizard, the copy clerk,
la hechicera, who covers for you, who hands you
warm copies with Laxmi hands, the one who holds a smile
the way she holds arms, the way she keeps a door, open.
Alabado sea Mr. Martinez, Ms. Bonilla, Ms. Lino, z
and Mr. Galvan, the environmentalists, the custodians,
the fixers, the architects, the ones who walks past
you, set up your day, break down your evening, they leave
no trace they were ever here, when they take a last breath
in the building, your world resets. They provide a new day.
Alabado sea Ms.Jimenez, Ms. Alyson, Ms. Drake, the gift
givers, the UNICEF ambassadors, the cafeteria workers,
the manage to feed the children, what more do you want?
Thank them. You will never see them, But the kids do. Here
before you come to work, gone when every stomach is full,
every hot meal these ladies make is a blessing, Abundancia.
Ask the kids, they know.
Alabado sea Officer Bonaby, guardaespaldas, sleuth, PI,
guardian, she who holds the kids close, laughs with them,
watches as they come and go from the building, and when
you aren’t looking, prays for them to come back the next day.Â
Alabado sea Nurse Jordan, Hospital Corpsman,
Petty Officer First Class (Ret.) E-6, HM1, goddess,
healer, school nurse, tells you like it is, warms her hands,
tells the kids they will be alright, feeds them band-aids,
the keeper of the cots, the savior of us all.
Alabado sea everyone who keeps your kids safe, keeps
them together, who keeps them clean, who keeps them
wanting more, who keeps them in their hearts, in their heads,
who reaches out and builds a world for children. This is how
I say praise, albanza, I say, even if god has no face.