By Adolfo Guzman Lopez
For Anne Campbell and all the other residents of National City
Our history is written in 19th century journals
Our history is written on the sandy banks of the reservoir
Our history is written in cholo script in an alley behind St. Anthony’s
They brought their books
To Rancho de la Nación
A boy opens a book and dreams
The library was my sanctuary
The library kept me inside
The library took me out
Children still run next to mountains of recycled metal
Protestant chanting streams out of the Bay Theater and into the harbor
The Hebrew lessons lay buried under 8th Street
The children’s songs lay buried under 8th Street
They sprout between cracks in the sidewalk
After the winter rains
The train tracks came and went
The night clubs and pizza parlors came and went
The Navy ships will have come and gone
The Mile of Cars will one day be a yard of tires
But the people will have their books
But the people will have their language
But the people will have their stories
A girl opens a book and dreams
One day, the house with the best view will be the one atop Mt. San Miguel
We have lived to see the day when the books get their rightful repository
¡Edúcate Raza!
Wise up people
George’s Cakes will become a taquería
Will become Manila fried chicken
Will become a pupusería
Will become a union hall
Will become an overseas call center for Chinese credit card companies
Don’t touch the words because they are holy
Devour the words because they are holy
Read to the children
So they can leave
And come back
There’s a railroad diary buried there
There’s a Bible buried there
There’s a Koran buried there
There’s a Torah buried there
We’ve watered the earth
We’ve taken care of the books
And these new stone walls have sprouted
So that a little boy and a little girl
Can open up a book and dream
Editor’s Note: Adolfo Guzman Lopez often referred to as the “unofficial poet laureate” of National City presented this poem at the official inauguration of the National City Public Library, after which many people requested that the poem be published. We are happy that Mr Lopez asked that the poem be published in La Prensa San Diego. Adolfo Guzman Lopez is a poet and journalist. He grew up in National City and is currently a radio reporter in Los Angeles.
Return to the Frontpage