A cut and paste poem,
taken from the book,
"America," by Robert Goodwin.


"Conquistadors"

Tierra, Tierra, Land Ahoy,
God and Glory,
His Catholic Monarchs,
Hand in iron glove.

An infinite army,
gathered on the dunes,
beautiful arc of
emerald archipelago.

Vassals of poor,
dogs of war,
brimming swagger,
no quarter given.

Christian civilization,
cannibal princess,
feathered headdress
and sacred rattle.

New flock of lambs,
natural slaves,
deprived of liberty,
by Faith in Jesus Christ.

Rusty-ochre hues,
blackened skin,
anarchic shackles,
and rattling chains.

Merciless caiman,
hogs and goats,
ballasts of gold,
cities on a far off plain.

The swamp's revenge,
cowards in the rain,
a company of cripples,
jetsam on winter waves.

The broken army,
transported back to Spain,
Bourbon impositions,
pearly sails glistening.