"Orlando continued looking through the box and found his mail that had been saved for him while he was in the hole. He frantically reached for the pile of letters in hopes to catch up with time. He tore them open one after another. As he began to read about his daughter, a picture fell to the ground from between the sheets of paper. My brother reached down to pick up the photo that had landed face down. He turned it over and saw that it was a picture of our father proudly holding his granddaughter. Orlando was immediately paralyzed by the image of our father, a spiritual awakening. He is consumed by visions of himself, going all the way back to when he was a little chavalito. For the first time, Orlando realized how his life decisions affected our father. Each vision that passed through Orlando left a bloodstain on his soul that would remain for a thousand lifetimes. Unable to sleep, or forgive himself, Orlando reached out to my father from behind the bars that could not keep him silent. I now know how an envelope can truly hold the spirit of a man. My father received these words from my brother in a letter:
A Warrior's Poem:
"I know you don't understand right now, but you will when you get older."
When you used to say those words to me,
Older seemed a lifetime away.
Going all the way back to when I was a little chavalito,
The trouble I used to get into.
Like the time I stole the neighbor's big wheel,
Thinking I was all bad.
But when you caught me, you gave me "The Look."
You know the look.
The look only a father can give.
Strange how one look can say so much,
But no words can describe the look.
A father's look.
"I know you don't understand right now, but you will when you get older."
The times I cut class,
Your look was different this time.
Behind the anger, there was fear.
I didn't understand.
But I know now you were afraid for me,
Afraid that I would deprive myself of the choices an education brings.
Afraid that I would end up in a job like yours,
Too much work, too little pay.
Ironic that my greatest teacher was denied the opportunity of an education.
"I know you don't understand right now, but you will when you get older."
There was only one time when we shared the same look.
The time you were playing dominos with your compadres,
And you gave me a drink of your cerveza.
At that exact moment my Jefita walked in.
Boy did you get "The Look"!
A poet's poetic justice.
Here is something you might not have understood then.
Through all the looks and poverty,
Through the punishment and disappointment,
You gave me the greatest gift a son can receive.
Funny, you don't realize it even when the gift is yours,
You managed to give me the gift......... Everyday
Imagine, the greatest gift......... Everyday
You came home......... Everyday
"I know you don't understand right now, but you will when you get older."
I'm a grown man now,
I find myself waiting for your looks.
Hoping to earn a look of approval,
The strength to provide you with a look of pride.
I know you don't understand right... STOP!
Dad, I understand...
Now my daughter gets "The Look"
EVERYDAY!.......................Gracias.
Orlando"
May this book start a revolución of the mind and spirit. May we stand and fight to find our humanity, compassion, and voice."
- Danny Boy
To learn more about Danny Boy and Mi Revolución, please go to mi-revolucion.com