Su Cara Oscura Lyrics

I was too young for the love of a woman

Yet Rosa and I kissed like blue movies

Passion like a single torch from double brittle vines

No one knew but her father

And never a heavy eye or a harsh word

Did he say to me in many long years

They called me greenie because I am gringo

I burn in the sun and they say get red as giberela ears

But Papa told me Rosa's mother would approve you

So do I, said his finger on my chest, so do I

The day before her 15th birthday

We were heavy on her bedroom floor

When she sensed a blackness at the stairs

Her face rigid and fearful, we stood and waited like bait

The door swung open and the look on their faces

Chilled our heart

The father and sister and brother

There at the threshold

Papa's dark face

Her siblings pushed by him, into her room

Her brother grabbed Papa's shoulder, but he would not be moved

Papa has something he must tell you said Maria

Juan wouldn't look at me his eyes full and sad

But Papa would not be moved, his eyes blazing into her head, just above her dark eyes

The strong pull lost his balance

And one foot in my room, one in the hall

There Papa stayed with his dark face on me

Just a boy I panicked looked for escape

How to save Rosa from disgrace, maybe worse

The sister said again your father has something he must tell you.

Rosa my love she let go of my hands and stood to face her father

What is it Papa she says What have I done

He held out a wooden box, his eyes lowered to the floor

His one foot in her room the other still unsure

We strained to hear his voice, our breathing must quiet

Papa says My youngest is no child my heart is breaking

My eyes blinked and she is gone a strange woman in my home

Their hands shaking she reaches to possess the wooden box

Rosa held it and looked nervous at her father sister and brother

Sister Maria told her it's OK, just open it

Her hand trembles as she opens the blood red box of cedar

To find a small tiara

Brother Juan said we have done secret, we lied to you from our heart

But we have enough money, we have been saving for months, and

Rosa your quinceanera will be tomorrow at one pm, in this home

All is finished, everyone is invited

Sister Maria told Rosa This tiara was worn by Abuela and mama and me

I tell you in turn, Rosa Victoria de Castilla, you are our family legacy

His eyes unclear now, Papa held out a blue envelope with Rosa in script on its face

The last thing your mama was able to do on earth

Of her own body was to write you this letter to be given to you

The day before your quinceanera

I longed for years to hear her voice, but I never peeked

It is sealed with her unbounded love for you

As he reached to hand it to her, he fell into her room

He sunk and moaned as if a dagger was pinning him to her floor

Rosa fell beside him quivering and took her letter

Giving in to sobs of sadness delight

Her mother's voice from her childhood

We all fell on the floor hiding our tears, even brother Juan

A grief we come to know and live beside

To weave our lives around

Can come back as fresh as rotting berries to pierce our heart years later

The Lord gives us a loan of love and often takes it back to himself

And our grief is interest on the Lord's loan

The interest grows and never is paid in full here in this world

The love is worth the pain, it makes us more than human

More than human but back to spirit again