Zepata, episode 2

You do NOT want to mess with this guy!

(the real ZAPata, not this storyteller pretender below)

DEDICATED TO HIS SPIRIT

…………………………………………………..

ZEPATA AND EL DAYO
Instalment 2

Zepata dismounts El Dayo
at two on the day of
coming home
to his sanctuary and
real woman

The sun so hot it beats tremors
through Dayo's hide
Zepata's left hand resting on Dayo
feels the ripples
the only signs Dayo gives
and they are involuntary
that the steady horse requires surcease
from the relentless sun

The shells in the crossed bandoliers
need to be pulled into the shade of
Zepata's chest out of the sun like turning meat
on a spit
their heat searing through leather and denim
weltering Zepata's lash-scarred back
Law-key they not 'splode
Murmurs Zepata

Zepata says easy boy
and swings his studded
boot over and down to the ground
and pulls the cartridge-bulging
saddle bags off the horse's back

Dayo knows
it is for siesta he does this
needed if they are
to make it to their real women
Yes Dayo has a woman too
Stallion El Dayo

Zepata takes his canteen
swishes it around to read
its contents
smiles and pours a long stream
of water into Dayo's sand-crusted
spittle-dried sneering snorting
determined maw

The stallion stops drinking before
he is sated for he is the
saviour's mount and
El Dayo has a duty to
the master
How can but a mere horse know this?

Zepata swings the canteen
above his gaping mouth
and waters himself long
the water swilling over his dusty
whisker-rasped
weather-beaten face
as well as flowing down Zepata's
parched throat

But he stops short of emptying
the canteen
Stops because the last draught
Is saved for El Dayo
who must insure arrival
on this last leg of their pilgrimage
A promise to Real Woman Irena:
Zepata will return

The journey to the safety of the hideaway
and the strong compelling scent
of his real woman
and Dayo's mare in season
The fleeing man and horse
will make it by nightfall
if they rest now

They will need the rest
for homecoming
oh yes oh yes
they will need the rest
for homecoming

When the sun is past its apogee
Zepata and Dayo
emerge from the shade of
the rocks
two similarly stinking creatures
Two more hours
and they'll be home

By now the grade is so steep
that the stones loosened from their
tentative resting places by Dayo's
driving hooves
clatter down the mountainside
musically like a xylophone

Zepata surveys the Mexican panorama
From this high up he sees far
the land of his ancestors
who were Indians
their blood pounding up the mountain
for Zepata and his horse

Blood flowing upstream
Against gravity
Up Zepata's pulsing carotids
refreshing reminding rekindling
love of freedom
love of land
love of woman


Zepata leans forward and rests
his chest on Dayo's neck
the rider's arms encircle the horse
and he beats out a slow ancient rhythm
on Dayo's breastbone
It encourages his mount

Ah Dayo Dayo Dayo
I loving you my goot friend
We have covered territory together
They have tried to shoot us down
As they kill our women and children
but they never succeed
We take their boolets
like we take shots at the saloon
or at the Jesuit clinic

We take zem and we dissolve them
in Mexican blood
and we piss them out like so mach water
Eh my friend?
Forking A, amigo
Forking A, my hoe-worse

Zepata sleeps again
While Dayo picks a careful way
up the ensteepening incline
weaving switchbacks
like the flight of a nectar-seeking
half-ton butterfly


They come into the clearing
and the hasty home
made of boards and rudimentary amenities
taken to this place
by faithful revolutionaries
who fight at Zepata's side
so much do they love and protect
Zepata

No one reaches Zepata's aerie
No one they vow as they wait
In their encampment far below
And they know Zepata needs to be
With Irena

Real woman and mare make a confluent
whinnying sound at the sight of their men
Manes toss
Six long and lithe legs rush
to their long-awaited merger

Dayo's breath comes quickly
and Zepata warrior bold
sits up rampant in the soon to be
uncinched slung-down saddle
a rampancy like never before
One last attention atop Dayo

No plumb line has length
Sufficient to the measure of his
cavernous thirsts
Irena shall bathe Zepata
The mare shall care for Dayo
Dayo faithful servant
To May Hee Ko's hero:

Vive Zepata!

[5-19-98]