Status Updates From Silver People: Voices from ...

*reading for school*

A TREE VIPER

Green snake or green plant?

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BITE

MATEO - Payday

The payroll office is just a train car
with two windows and two signs:
GOLD. SILVER. My first two
English words.

Our whole crew waits in a slow, snaking
line that leads to the SILVER sign,
while beside us at the GOLD window,
a short, swiftly moving row of americano
foremen and steam-shovel drivers
hold out big, floppy cowboy hats
to catch a shower of gold.

Gold. Just like the bell-bright coins

MATEO - A different hunger

Homesickness?
How can I miss the place
I was so desperate to leave?

All night, I lie awake, frightened
by jungle noises. By dawn,
all I want to do
is keep listening
to screeching birds
and howling monkeys-
any wild animal music
to help me escape
from my own scary
human story
of loss.