Cultural Geography
Luna perseguida por perros/ Moon Chased by Dogs
by Rafael Jesús González
La luna plena entra
por mi ventana;
sus enaguas blancas
llenan el cuarto.
Me persiguen los perros —
dice — Mira,
mira como me han
desgarrado las faldas;
hay una bola
de perros enloquecidos
sueltos en el mundo.
Temo que mañana
mis enaguas se tiñan
rojas de sangre.
Hay perros rabiosos
sueltos en el mundo.
Moon Chased by Dogs
The full moon comes
through my window;
her white skirts
fill the room.
I am chased by the dogs,
she says. Look,
look how they have
shredded my skirts;
there is a pack
of mad dogs
let loose in the world.
I am afraid that tomorrow
my skirts will be stained
red with blood.
There are mad dogs
let loose in the world.
was born into a Mexican family and raised in El Paso, Texas, on the U.S./Mexican border; Juárez, Chihuahua, was directly across on the Mexican side. A poet, visual artist, and social justice and environmental activist, Rafael is also a Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing and Literature. He has taught at the University of Oregon, Western State College of Colorado, Central Washington State University, the University of Texas at El Paso, and Laney College in Oakland, California, a community college known for its ethnic diversity.