Cuate Rafael y los lowriders
- Cuate Rafael y los lowriders
Cuate Rafael no puede vera los lowriders sabes quejust the other dayandaba en su troquita tú sabes“la asquerosa” allá en el Furr’s parking loty ‘staba reculando when this pinche cruisercomes spacing up in a midnight blueT-top Grand Prixand hooks his fuckin’ rear end into Cuate Rafael’s front fendery casi lo arancó pero no le hizo nada a ese barco d’el thoughthe jodido Chimayosowaves his fist in Cuate Rafael’s face jurando que si él no le pagaba quinientos pesos pa’ un paint jobnuevo [End Page 204] well he just better not show his assaround this town no more bueno túpuedes imaginar como sé le subió al Cuate Rafael y él un alcaldeño también dice queif he would’ve hadhis cuete along with him pueslo hubiera sacado allí mismoand evened up a few old scores but insteadhe just went homegot drunkand glared at his mother all the way through dinner [End Page 205]
Jim Sagel (1947–1998) was a prolific author of poetry, essays, children’s books, and short stories. Born in Fort Morgan, Colorado, he moved to Española, New Mexico, in 1970, where he developed a profound appreciation for, and command of, local vernacular and cultures. Embodying what today we might call “translingual practices,” Sagel’s work has been referred to by some literary specialists as “chicanesque.” The above poem originally appeared in Chiricú, vol. 3, no. 1, 1982, pp. 11–12.
