Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A BORDER AFFAIR, by CHARLES BADGER CLARK JR.


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A BORDER AFFAIR, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Spanish is the lovin' tongue
Last Line: "adios, mi corazon."
Alternate Author Name(s): Clark, Badger
Subject(s): Cowboys; Love - Cultural Differences; Love Affairs; Ranch Life; West (u.s.); Southwest; Pacific States


SPANISH is the lovin' tongue,
Soft as music, light as spray;
'T was a girl I learnt it from
Livin' down Sonora way.
I don't look much like a lover,
Yet I say her love-words over
Often when I'm all alone —
"Mi amor, mi corazon."

Nights when she knew where I'd ride
She would listen for my spurs,
Throw the big door open wide,
Raise them laughin' eyes of hers,
And my heart would nigh stop beatin'
When I'd hear her tender greetin'
Whispered soft for me alone —
"Mi amor, mi corazon!"

Moonlight in the patio,
Old Senora noddin' near,
Me and Juana talkin' low
So the "madre" couldn't hear —
How those hours would go a-flyin',
And too soon I hear her sighin',
In her little sorry-tone —
"Adios, mi corazon."

But one time I had to fly
For a foolish gamblin' fight,
And she said a swift good-bye
On that black, unlucky night.
When I'd loosed her arms from clingin',
With her words the hoofs kept ringin',
As I galloped north alone —
"Adios, mi corazon."

Never seen her since that night;
I cain't cross the Line, you know.
She was Mex and I was white;
Like as not it's better so.
Yet I've always sort of missed her
Since that last wild night I kissed her,
Left her heart and lost my own —
"Adios, mi corazon."





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