The Beautiful Children of Mexico

The beautiful children of Mexico
shed music as they come and go
see how they dance and how they flow–
the beautiful children of Mexico?

Long hair held back out of the way,
womanhood fastened there at bay.
They’ll loosen it another day,
but for now they need to play.

See how the big boys stand aloof
in the shadow of the courtyard roof?

Yet their guard lets down as they sing and dance,
with an occasional sideways glance.

They lean and banter, jostle and
cavort like puppies as they stand.
But see how the smallest one of all
suddenly seems to stand so tall?

See the talents they all display–
victorious at the end of day.

So clever, given half a chance,
they show their bravery in dance.
Intelligence in the written word–
a painting of a flower or bird,

these beautiful masks they’ve put in place
obscure the beauty of each face.

Mothers and fathers, heed me well
as the truth of it I seek to tell.
As they lift their masks, end their parade,
see the beautiful children that you’ve made!

I’d been asked to read a poem at the children’s performance at the end of camp tomorrow night, but nothing I’ve written seemed appropriate, so I  wrote this poem that I will read at the end of the animal song and mask presentation as they are about to take off their masks and leave the stage for a party and dinner prepared by Agustin, the owner of the restaurant where we held this six day camp. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting a glimpse of a few of the over 600 pictures I took. Too many photo opportunities!!! I guess I’d advise that no one else try to sift through this many pictures to adorn a post.  It has taken me from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.–with a few diversions..two one hour phonecalls and a few email interruptions!  So, a very late posting, but  appropriate for this prompt: https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/well-i-never/