We spent Saturday afternoon in Nogales. These were my impressions. Next time, we’re thinking of crossing the border and walking around the Sonoran side for a while.

Nogales

the view arriving on I-19
reminds me of mountain towns
in Greece or Italy

los casas, laser printed
like dense philosophical text
over steep hillsides

it’s laid across the boundary
between Sonora and AZ
like a ragged old band-aid

a wall runs down the middle
and out either side
clarifies the great divide

keeps the ‘undesirables’
in their own ‘yards’ – so they say
both north and south

but a century ago
you could take a casual stroll
either way

progress?

–LE – 2/9/25