I’m writing and I’m living in Spain,
And I’m saying things like,
I am so happy, and
Me voy al sobre.
And me voy a tomar una siesta.
I’m riding my bicycle in Spain
And it’s raining and it’s cold,
And I’m saying this is crazy.
I can’t believe I bike everywhere in the
rain.
I don’t have fenders on my bicycle.
The thighs of my jeans are soaked,
I can see the water coming off my tires
And spinning splashes at me.
I keep riding.
I have to get to the University on time.
I have to get to my language lessons on
time.
I have to get to the train station on
time.
I have to get to the airport on time.
But wait,
I’m at the train station,
And I see a sign that says,
Tiempo no existe, no tengas prisa.
And I smile. And I laugh.
I keep walking but then I realize,
I’m in Spain and time doesn’t exist.
So I stop.
And I go back to look at the sign.
My camera is packed deep in my bag,
But I take the time to unpack it.
I put the lens on.
I zoom in on the sign.
I snap a picture.
And I smile.
And I make it to the airport on time.
And I board the plane, and people
Aren’t speaking in Spanish anymore.
Italian now.
And I listen.
And I listen.
And I love it.
I love this time I have.
And like a dream, I think it doesn’t
exist.
But the rain reminds me that it does.