With Robert Frost at El Tenampa Bar
Fernando Esteban Flores
May 18, 2022
Goin’ out to El Tenampa
Drink away my blues
Double shot of whiskey
Should make me feel brand new
Party hearty long & strong
Down at Rosedale Park
In well-creased khakis, orange Stacy’s on
I’ll be chillin’ after dark
Be at El Tenampa/drink a few/shoot some pool/
You come too
Goin’ out to El Tenampa
Jump start Market Square
Jitterbug Zoot suit style
Slick back my wavy hair
Dab of El Perico
Un poquito de pomade
A splash of Brut smell real good
No hombre got it made
Be at El Tenampa/drink a few/shoot some pool/
You come too
Goin’ out to El Tenampa
Promenade Hemisfair
Parade low riders on la Commerce
Beboppin’ in the air
Groovin’ to the oldies
Ruka by my side
Smile Now Cry Later
Be a wild wild Westside ride
Be at El Tenampa/drink a few/shoot some pool/
You come too
Goin’ out to El Tenampa
Back to Rosedale get my fill
Con las hijas de Don Simón
Wear out my charoles get my thrill
Dig the foot stomping sound
Batería bajo sexto y acordeón
Spin ‘em round & round
Con tequila y agua de melón
Be at El Tenampa/drink a few/shoot some pool/
You come too
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El Tenampa—a historic cantina in downtown San Antonio, TX
Rosedale Park—site of the annual Tejano Conjunto Music Festival on San Antonio’s fabled Westside
Stacy’s—Stacy Adams shoes popularized by Mexican American men
El Perico—a popular hair pomade used by Mexican American males
Un poquito de—a little dab’ll do ya
No hombre—Naw man
la Commerce—Commerce Street
Ruka—in Calo (Mexican American slang for chick or girl)
Smile Now Cry Later—60s ballad popularized by Chicano band, Sunny & the Sunliners
Con las hijas de Don Simón—a cumbia titled the daughters of Don Simón
Charoles—patent leather shoes
Batería bajo sexto y acordeón—drums, acoustic bass guitar & accordion characteristic of Norteño music
Con tequila y agua de melón—with tequila & melon water
Fernando Esteban Flores is a native son of Tejas, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, published three books of poetry: Ragged Borders, Red Accordion Blues, & BloodSongs available through Hijo del Sol Publishing, published in multiple journals, reviews, newspapers, and online sites, selected in 2018-19 by the Department of Arts & Culture of the City of San Antonio, with support from Gemini Ink for his poem Song for America V (Yo Soy San Antonio) as one of 30 poems/poets to commemorate the City’s Tricentennial anniversary, and recently named poetry editor of the Catch the Next Journal of Ideas & Pedagogy.
