Recuerdos de Rabones, Chile, Paintings by Clina Polloni

Summer Evenings in Rabones

As the sun sets
on a summer day
on a gold country road,
Campesinos go back home
guided by the aroma
of the fresh baked bread.

Hello!. Good Bye!... it’s time to rest
children gather around the red flame of the fire
Grandma tells stories of long ago
Grandpa carefully rolls his cigar
time for family and a cup of matte.

The night will soon fall
in the valley of Rabones.

Poem by Clina Polloni

Letters from Rabones:

Estimada Clina:

Con alegria recorde momentos tempranos de nuestras vidas al explorar en la web y colocar la palabra "rabones" para informar a unos amigos extranjeros donde podrian pasar sus vacaciones.

The Old Man’s Chair

Weaving wicker was his trade
in the Valley of “Rabones”.

He collected the long green spikes
from the fertile bank of the river,
weaving straw by straw,
under the shade of a friendly tree.
golden rays of summer sun,
embraced his inspiration
with intricate and creative designs.

One Summer evening we went to his home,
where the old man was sitting in his chair,
smoking his cigar with a worm cup
of fresh mate in his hand.

He told stories about his children,
and how they left the valley long ago.
We asked...Can we buy your chair?
and the old man said “NO!...This is my chair...
but today I finished the last of four chairs
and I would be happy to sell you those”.
So we bought them all.

The next day we went back to
the old man’s house,
but the chair was empty.

Poem by Clina Polloni