We Are Kings

In a little story called, “Out of Order,” the author describes how he felt when he saw a young mother and her four-year-old son standing at a candy machine. The mother says,

“You can’t get any candy, son. The machine is out of order. See, there’s a sign on the machine.”

But he didn’t understand. After all, he had the desire; and she had the money; and he could see all sorts of candy in the machine. And yet, somehow, somewhere, something was wrong because he couldn’t get the candy.

The boy walked back with his mother, and he wanted to cry. And Lord, I too felt like weeping — weeping for people who have become locked-in, jammed — broken machines filled with goodness other people need and want, and yet will never come to enjoy — because somehow, somewhere, something has gone wrong inside.

The following lines have been adapted from a poem by one of the most distinguished Mexican poets of the late…