Cultural Adaptation

I finished reading the book Alabanza, a collection of poems by Martín Espada.  The following is one I really liked. 


My Native Costume
     by Martín Espada

When you come to visit,
said a teacher
from the suburban school,
don't forget to wear
your native costume.

But I'm a lawyer,
I said.
My native costume
is a pinstriped suit.

You know, the teacher said,
a Puerto Rican costume.



Like a guayabera?  The shirt?  I said.
But it's February.

The children want to see
a native costume,
the teacher said.

So I went
to the suburban school,
embroidered guayabera
short-sleeved shirt
over a turtleneck,
and said, Look kids,
cultural adaptation.