Valparaiso

Oh, city of my birth!

Jewel of the Pacific,

I remember your streets,

Winding like a maze,

Through your many hills,

Filled with iron shanties.

Every turn the unexpected,

A beautiful park or fountain,

Your graffiti covered walls,

The street dogs wandering,

Looking for scraps of food.

I remember your ports,

Always filled with ships,

Stacked high with containers,

Life blood of the city.

I remember your smells,

The taste of salt and fish,

The street markets,

Selling fresh produce,

And old dilapidated trinkets.

Oh, city of my youth!

Dancing the night away,

Among your many nightclubs.

Always ready for anything,

Just living the moment.

A part of me was forged,

In your bohemian image,

The waves on your beaches,

Wash over my soul,

And I dive in them still.