Treasure
Hablo español.
I began to learn
when I was fifty-one.
The language was difficult,
required a lot of work.
My teachers taught
me the language and opened
the door to a colorful,
spirited world, different
from my colonial-style
neighborhood.
Although I make errors
and do not understand
completely,
I feel I’ve discovered
buried pirate treasure
when I speak Spanish.
Others feel
Spanish speakers
are people to arrest,
deport—
pirates, murderers,
rapists, terrorists—
people like my friends
José y Natalia, people
of faith
Lucía, a doctor,
Ana, a nurse,
Carlos, an entrepreneur—
people who work hard,
pay taxes, cure diseases,
raise buildings
build our country—
people who came
to make a new life—
for themselves,
their children,
grandchildren—
to live
our American dream.
John Kenneth Gibson is a retired Episcopal priest, who learned Spanish to serve Latinos in central North Carolina. He holds an M.A. in Spanish from North Carolina State University. His poetry has appeared and is forthcoming in Agradecidas Señas.