Mal Agueros By Nick Carbo


If you come to Mojacar

and peel open an orange full of worms,

count how many there are because

those are the days it will take for your body

to decompose after you are buried.

If you come to Mojacar

and find a small green snake with its back

broken, don't step on it or you'll cause

an earthquake that will catch up to you

while you sleep in a continent far, far away.

If you come to Mojacar

and two brown long-legged spiders crawl

on your face and shoulders, keep a sharp eye

out for two individuals, a mother-son, or

sister-sister who will try to take your money.

If you come to Mojacar

and see a scorpion scurry by your feet,

note the direction it ran to, north, south,

east, or west. You must avoid going there

or risk the sting of losing a loved one.

If you come to Mojacar

and a cock crows ten times at three

in the morning, lock your door and all

the wooden windows because nightmares in silver

dresses will arrive to slip into your bed.

Nick Carbo, "Mal Agueros" from Andalusian Dawn.
Copyright © 2004 by Nick Carbo.
Reprinted by permission of Nick Carbo.
Source: Andalusian Dawn (Cherry Grove Collections, 2004)
Version 1 of 5

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