Spirit Heroes on the Wall
Another hero
dead and gone
200 years
before I met him
met his gaze
a portrait on
the museum wall
his eyes
so bold
so sad.
Do I know you
Juan Jose?
I feel as though I
know you
very well.
Have I met
your restless spirit
in a dream?
Dead heroes sometimes
come and go
or so they say
surprising those who
thought them
ordinary.
Appearing, and then
disappearing
back into the mists.
If once I knew you
Juan Jose,
I hope that
I was brave enough
to be your friend.
Juan Jose Rondon, is the guys name, the one who I THINK the picture is of. I googled him and everything is in Spanish, but I THINK he was in a calvary, for the rebels (Bolivar, trying to get rid of Spain). He’d originally been Venezuelan, son of slaves, and joined the Spanish army, but didn’t like the Spanish, thought they were cruel, so he took off and joined the rebels in Colombia. Anyway, Bolivar was losing a big battle, and all would be lost, when Juan Jose said, why haven’t you asked us to help? and Bolivar said, “Go then, and save the country!” So Juan Jose yelled “Those who are brave, follow me!” and 9 guys followed him, and they won, and saved the day for the good guys. I think before the battle, he and his friends were taking care of the horses or something.
dandelion de la rue June 18, 2012 Bogota’