J.P.’s uncle is a philosophy and ethics professor at University of Southern Maine.  He writes poetry "on the side" as he puts it.  A few years back he decided he needed to learn Spanish and started going to Mexico on a regular basis... especially in the winters to escape the biting cold of Maine.  He recently sent J.P. this poem and we had to share it with you.  "Pan" is bread in Spanish, in case you haven't watched Dora the Explorer lately.

“Hey pan!”
In the early evening of the winter dark
Under the stars the secular culture’s muzzin
Welcomes the faithful home
With the ancient call of bread
“Hey pan!”
The call of home in Cuernavaca
Outside
Huddled neighbors with flashlights
Bow before the trunk of the old Chevvy
We thrive on a simple display of peddler’s bread
Pretty feast of baked air
There I perform my daily rite
Greet Roderigo
Ask for the children
Laugh with friends
Choose my bread
Pay the few pesos
Say good night
Buenas noches
Gracias…hasta mañana…
“Hey pan!”
“Hey pan!”
The day is ending in its usual peace
“Hey pan!”
Life goes on
Buy our bread
We’ll come back again tomorrow
“Hey pan!”
Flour and yeast and salt and water mixed
Punched down
Rising living dough
Ovened to a crisp golden brown
For you for me
“Hey pan!”
May you
May all of you taste the quiet beauty
The sustaining peace of this bread
“Hey pan!”
May it nurture you