La Piņata
Hit hard, Juan! Hit hard with your long stick!
There! You nearly hit a swallow. Try again!
Oh Juan, Juan, you’ll have to do better than that!
La Piņata is laughing at you, there where he hangs in the tree.
La Piņata is kicking up his black paper shoes in the air.
His eyes twinkle. He tosses his devil’s horns.
Inside his pottery head the candy and fruits,
The whistles and firecrackers and little toys
Are all laughing at you.
For you they’ll never shower down.
Be bold, Juan! Be bold! Move about! Try harder!
Your turn is nearly up. Perhaps the next boy
Will be luckier than you have been.
La Piņata is still king of the castle.
By Elizabeth Coatsworth
