At a Bus Stop in El Barrio
Tha’ vahnahnah go-een to keel joo.
Excuse me?
Tha’ vahnahnah ... go-een to keel joo.
I’m sorry, I don’t understand.
O’ káy. Sô ... vahnahnah haf sostahnence, nô?
Uh —
O’ káy. Ees troo if joo haf sostahnence, joo problee leev anothe’ thay?
I suppose so, look —
Alrigh. If joo ee tha’ vahnahnah, joo weel be leeving ôp a-hed, righ?
Yeah alright, so?
O’ káy. Are joo thy-een now?
What?
Are joo thy-een now — a’ thees momen?
I hope not.
O’ káy. Ees troo ... ôp a-hed — joo thy some poin?
Of course.
Alrigh, sô, vahnahnah poosh you there.
Um.
Tha’ vahnahnah go-een to keel joo, baby.
Source: Poetry (May 2014)