La Consagración Del Cafe
al monseñor Óscar A. Romero
Un día de dios
en mi patio tomando café
nada es normal —
ni el alcatraz
con su pene dorado
ni el iris
como lava morada
que derrama un volcán.
Encuentro en el fondo de la taza
casullas bordadas
de mariposas negras
y guindas manchas —
el sol dispara
centellas de balas plateadas
y de cirios ahogados —
hay sangre en su brillar.
Pongo la burda taza en su platillo
con un tierno cuidado
como si fuera cáliz
y digo la letanía:
Guatemala
Nicaragua
El Salvador.
Y un lado del corazón
me sabe blanco y dulce
como la caña
y el otro,
como el café,
negro y amargo.
© Rafael Jesús González 2026
(Siete escritores comprometidos: obra y perfil; Fausto Avendaño, director; Explicación de Textos Literarios vol. 34 anejo 1; diciembre 2007; Dept. of Foreign Languages; California State University Sacramento; derechos reservados del autor.)
The Consecration Of Coffee
-to Archbishop Óscar A. Romero
One day of god
drinking coffee in my patio
nothing is normal —
not the calla
with its penis of gold
nor the iris
like purple lava
a volcano spills.
I find in the depths of the cup
chasubles embroidered
with black moths
& red stains —
the sun fires
a scintillation of silver bullets
& of candles drowned —
there is blood in its shine.
I place the cup on its saucer
with a most tender care
as if it were a chalice
& say the litany:
Guatemala
Nicaragua
El Salvador
& one side of my heart
tastes white & sweet
like cane sugar
& the other,
like coffee,
bitter & black.
© Rafael Jesús González 2026
(Visions-International, no. 44, 1994;
author’s copyrights)
al monseñor Óscar A. Romero
Un día de dios
en mi patio tomando café
nada es normal —
ni el alcatraz
con su pene dorado
ni el iris
como lava morada
que derrama un volcán.
Encuentro en el fondo de la taza
casullas bordadas
de mariposas negras
y guindas manchas —
el sol dispara
centellas de balas plateadas
y de cirios ahogados —
hay sangre en su brillar.
Pongo la burda taza en su platillo
con un tierno cuidado
como si fuera cáliz
y digo la letanía:
Guatemala
Nicaragua
El Salvador.
Y un lado del corazón
me sabe blanco y dulce
como la caña
y el otro,
como el café,
negro y amargo.
© Rafael Jesús González 2026
(Siete escritores comprometidos: obra y perfil; Fausto Avendaño, director; Explicación de Textos Literarios vol. 34 anejo 1; diciembre 2007; Dept. of Foreign Languages; California State University Sacramento; derechos reservados del autor.)
The Consecration Of Coffee
-to Archbishop Óscar A. Romero
One day of god
drinking coffee in my patio
nothing is normal —
not the calla
with its penis of gold
nor the iris
like purple lava
a volcano spills.
I find in the depths of the cup
chasubles embroidered
with black moths
& red stains —
the sun fires
a scintillation of silver bullets
& of candles drowned —
there is blood in its shine.
I place the cup on its saucer
with a most tender care
as if it were a chalice
& say the litany:
Guatemala
Nicaragua
El Salvador
& one side of my heart
tastes white & sweet
like cane sugar
& the other,
like coffee,
bitter & black.
© Rafael Jesús González 2026
(Visions-International, no. 44, 1994;
author’s copyrights)
Let us remember and honor in our hearts the memory of Saint Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero Galdámez, Archbishop of San Salvador murdered while he said mass in the chapel of a hospital March 24, 1980, El Salvador. He was killed because of his opposition to the injustice, the cruelty of a rightist government supported by the U.S.; he was killed because he loved and tried to protect those he loved. He was killed for being a good shepherd. He preached to the Salvadorean soldiers: "Brothers, they are of your very own people, you are killing your own peasant brothers...No soldier is obligated to obey an order contrary to the law of God ", he said. "I beg you, I plead with you, I command you in the name of God: Cease the repression!" And he was murdered. The poem was written when we learned of his death.
In November 2025, six Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds (Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, and representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, Maggie Goodlander) released a video urging U.S. troops to refuse "unlawful orders," telling servicemembers that they have a legal (and moral) obligation to reject orders that violate the Constitution or law. Pres. Trump called the video "Seditious behavior from traitors punishable by death!”
Such is the fascist, would-be dictator, and the fascist Republican Party that supports him that govern the United States of America. In memory of St. Óscar Romero and for our lives, let us flood the streets in resistance on Saturday, March 28 — no kings in 250 years or ever.
In November 2025, six Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds (Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, and representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, Maggie Goodlander) released a video urging U.S. troops to refuse "unlawful orders," telling servicemembers that they have a legal (and moral) obligation to reject orders that violate the Constitution or law. Pres. Trump called the video "Seditious behavior from traitors punishable by death!”
Such is the fascist, would-be dictator, and the fascist Republican Party that supports him that govern the United States of America. In memory of St. Óscar Romero and for our lives, let us flood the streets in resistance on Saturday, March 28 — no kings in 250 years or ever.
En noviembre de 2025, seis legisladores demócratas con experiencia militar y en inteligencia (los senadores Mark Kelly y Elissa Slotkin, y los representantes Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan y Maggie Goodlander) difundieron un video urgiendo a las tropas estadounidenses a negarse a cumplir «órdenes ilegales», informando a los miembros de las fuerzas armadas que tienen la obligación legal (y moral) de rechazar órdenes que violen la Constitución o la ley. El presidente Trump le llamó al video «¡Conducta sediciosa de traidores, condenable con la muerte!»
Tal es el fascista, aspirante a dictador, y el fascista Partido Republicano que lo respalda que gobiernan a los Estados Unidos de América. En memoria del espíritu de San Óscar Romero y por nuestras vidas, inundemos las calles en resistencia el sábado 28 de marzo: no reyes en 250 años, ni nunca jamás.
