El Quinto Sol Amaneció en Madison, Wisconsin

Telling Tongues converged in
Madison, Wisconsin.
Tongues bleeding from being
Cut in half by parents that
Wanted Americano children.

Wisconsinites chose to listen more
To the Dali Lama, a Tibetan who
Shaved his head and draped himself
In orange robes like the color of faded
Blood on the Shroud of Turin

Dali Lama spewed words of peace
Much like the now split tongues
Of nuestra gente del Quinto Sol.
But unlike the Isthmus splitting Madison,
Telling Tongues grow whole.

El Quinto Sol amaneció en Madison el
Cinco de Mayo dos mil siete,
And beamed a ray of light and hope
For barrio people not to Dali Lama,
But to dalé Shine y dalé fuerte!


Hijas y Hijos, Chicanos y Chileanas,
Aymara y Azteca, Vatos y Vatas
Oscar, Manuel, Tony y Rey,
Claim the sullied streets of Madison
Bring back El Capitan Tomas!

Reversed assimilation in
Conquered lands should never be
Required of proud people with
Telling Tongues, or forever fear
The sound of the razor’s cutting.


by Roberto Pachecano