Latina


Latina's glistening quadriceps shifted as the road dipped and
looped 180, gravity easing the strain. Her eyes stayed
level sweeping the twilit greenery of upper Central Park,
close by dark Harlem where bloodup ferals prowl for prey
among the circling joggers from out of town unaware of the
danger.

She was exhilirated by the afterwork run, conference over,
paper applauded, the trip to New York nearly finished, bags
hotel-packed at the other end of the park, night flight
back through DFW to San Antonio's meandering riverine park.

Ten yards before a sparkling stream she saw with delight at
the bottom of the hill, a monster pounced from the shrubbery
and viciously smashed Latina in the mouth.

She tumbled to the lacerating pavement, stunned but rolling 
gymnast-agile. She rose running, terrified, alone, racing 
away from the grunting beast, outrunning it, gaining speed, 
passing over the scenic bridge.

Abruptly another beast rose from the dark abutment, clubbed 
her. She crumpled.

The Times reported the discovery by early morning runners,
Latina lying in the stream, crimson shorts at ankles, four 
dollars and door passcard in yellow jacket. Lips ruptured, 
front teeth shattered, lithe body scraped, skull-factured 
dead.

Name withheld pending a heart-shatterer to adoring familia
in dusty westside San Antone, who long-believed there was no
catching their scholarship-400-meter Latina who raced 
invincibly, burbling bilingual, through Trinity University
and honors at UT Law.

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September 18, 1995