Here, so far north

lyric about infamous Padre Martinez in Taos, NM

 Here, So Far North

         

      Padre Martinez writing to his cousin in Mexico

        For Sara and Alexander

 

You know I came sincerely to spread

the Word of God the Father,

I came filled with celibacy and Spain

and four hundred lemon seeds

and fourteen casks of wine

 

but here, so far north, I am father, husband, priest

and I love women, wine and Mary Corn and Joseph Rain

and I love the printing press, the weekly word.

I feel no shame, it’s my way of defying time

to string out type and record legalities

and public news and remedies and when to plant.

 

But most of all I love the children,

yes, I tell you, they are mine:

Antonio, Vicente, Maria:

their eyes and little hands

and the way they come to me

and stand between my knees

and let me smell their silken hair

which smells of soap and love

and then I know that I am theirs.

Author's Note

Padre Martinez was a priest but had three children with his mistress. He had the first printing press in NM

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

Interesting historical note here. I had never heard of Padre Martinez, but you portray him as a rather likable sort. Preferable by a long shot than any number of celibate, fanatical Inquisition types.

[Jim Levy]

Thanks John the Baptist. Yes Padre Martinez was very human and incredibly ahead of his time, but not terribly likable; irascible in fact. He was excommunicated by Lamy Bishop, not for his love life but for his support of the underdog.

[John Cardwell]

A beautiful soul-stirring collection of words. I hope you revisit this theme. Thanks for sharing.

[Jim Levy]

Thanks John. Yes, I have written a number of poems about how much I love my children. Sometimes it is easier to put it in the words of others.