Ed Galing

RAISING THE ROOF

they’re up there
on my roof
against the hot
summer sun;
          seven of ’em,
tearing down the
          old shingles,
a motley crew
          if ever i saw
one;
          as i look up from
down below they remind
me of steel workers,
as they build a scaffold,
inch by inch,
          climbing up to the
chimney,
          down come the old
shingles,
          softly they thud
among the bushes below,
          they’re efficient,
          short, brownskinned,
hard workers, bare in the
blaze.
          i pull out my harmonica
on impulse, grin, and begin
to play a favorite tune,
          LA KUKURACHA…LA
KUKURACHA…
          they stop in mid air,
almost startled, they grin
down at me and begin to do
their dance,
          up on the roof,
all seven of ’em, keeping
time with my song,
          bringing down the
roof.

—from Rattle #22, Winter 2004