ODE TO THE AHS CLASS OF 77

OAXACA REUNION

NOVEMBER, 2025

 

Several hundred years ago, when the Spaniards took Oaxaca,

they sought to tame the natives to make them act more propah!

 

They thought they'd make them civilized by bringing them religion,

and though the natives built great cities, they were told they had no vision!

 

The Zapotecs, Mixtecs and natives of all variety,

were told to live their daily lives with only acts of piety.

 

They were only permitted reading, prayer, and kneeling.

But all this introspection gave them a very empty feeling.

 

They loved their bountiful nature and surely missed their gods.

They also found the Spaniards' faith, so very, very odd!

 

The priests and hidalgos were vexed about the natives’ seeming lethargy.

So, they decided they’d hold a festal day to give the natives energy.

 

They harkened to the Spanish tradition of celebrating their martyred santos,

By parading throughout their villages in solemn processions and pious cantos.

 

According to tradition they commemorated martyrdom in an orderly display

And with their prayers and solemn songs they would keep the Devil at bay.

 

When the natives heard about the fest, a new outdoor saintly rally,

They couldn't wait to take the news to every mountain and valley!

 

They grew excited for the celebration in which they would take part,

in this fiesta they'd earnestly take the Spaniards' god to heart.

 

But when, finally, the day arrived, the natives soon grew disappointed.

They were ordered to walk in straight lines, lest the procession get disjointed.

 

The priests made the marches so austere, so very, very solemn,

expecting everyone to arrange themselves in even rows and columns!

 

But on that day the natives grabbed a chance to help them feed their souls,

by adding native flourishes to make the march more bold.

 

The marches grew more interesting as the natives used their imagination,

introducing their own great gods, rhythms and libations.

 

They grew the effigies of saints to monos that were ten feet tall!

And throughout the town you could find them looming from every wall.

 

The monos saintly faces had smiles that were so very cheerful.

But the happier they painted them, the more they got an earful!

 

Undetered, they added dancing ladies in flowing skirts,

And atop their heads were baskets, of amazing height and girth.

 

The baskets were filled with maize and beans, and multicolored flowers,

They balanced them so beautifully, that they clearly had special powers!

 

They built esferas de madera y tela, calling them marmotas.

And swirled them around in every march, so that an auspicious event was noted.

 

The marmotas held banners spread across, with names of those celebrated,

"Congratulations Juan and Maria to married life, dedicated! "

 

The Oaxacans added a horned bull tied up to a metal pole.

At first, they paraded the bull around but felt they needed more.

 

The baskets & flowers were really great, the festivities were going well,

But they felt they needed added oomph to ensure they’d truly excel!

 

Then Pancho Villa came to town and filled the bull with munitions,

"After they see what I've got in store, they're all going to transition!"

 

Every few feet that Villa walked, he pushed a secret trigger,

That caused the bull to rage with huge sparks and bangs, so much that it made them quiver!

 

The fire-works were so unreal, they made folks scream and shout,

"That's just what we've been waiting for, to make our feasts stand out!"

 

From that day on they included a bull armed with a secret trigger,

to make it shoot sparks from its horns and cause the place a shiver!

 

The ladies too added gunpowder to their baskets full of maze.

And sometimes when they spun their skirts, their heads gave off a blaze!

 

They soon marched for any reason,

any date, day, clime, or season!

 

Whenever something joyful came that augured something new,

the procession they'd named Calenda was just the thing to do!

 

This past November in Oaxaca, they welcomed a special group.

“AHS Class of 77, this Calenda is for you!“

 

Their purple and black Marmota, augured the vaunted feast,

"Welcome to Oaxaca, the belly of the beast!”

 

Atop each lady’s basket, was a beautiful number seven,

And Oaxaca's sunset was so gorgeous that we felt we were in heaven.

 

Every few feet, as the women danced, sparks flew out of their numero siete,

And without a doubt their performance made a very striking paquete!

 

For this 48th reunion you've gathered in a place,

where monks, nuns, and natives lived in olden days with grace.

 

To remember again those youthful years at a school that is so special,

where students learn what's good and bad … though some of you were devils!

 

You've grown up, had kids, and so much more and made the world a better place.

So, this weekend enjoy and explore and revel in the AHS embrace.

 

The AHS Calenda began at the Hotel Quinta Real …

Y de allí pasamos una noche musical y genial.

 

By the time we reached Santo Domingo, we were bursting with such joy,

excitement at such major heights, that everyone was buoyed.

 

The bull guy and señoritas continued to pull their secret triggers,

and danced the streets without a rest, releasing sparks with vigor.

 

At the plaza the bull’s crazy twirling sped,

And to our amazement the bangs increased from the white bull's head.

 

On and on the fireworks went,

And soon we started wondering when the bull would be spent!

 

But nooooo!

 

As the man and smiling señoritas continued to spin with all their heft.

We thought "That's it! The sparks are done. There's probably no more left."

 

But the sparks arising from the baskets and cow,

Continued to mesmerize us (for ten entire minutes). ¡Que wow!

 

They were clearly managing quite a feat.

And we wondered “How were they packing all that heat … and not miss a beat?”

 

After all those fireworks, the bull looked perfectly fine!

Did that secret-trigger bull guy pull the wool over our eyes?

 

When finally, the bangs had ended,

we knew a great reunion was portended.

 

We fathomed the reunion we were about to experience

with faith, love, friendship and luxuriance

would create a memory so exquisite,

we'd savor it all until our next visit.

 

Las clases del 69 al 78 asistieron también,

As their spouses exclaimed "Pues, ¡ni modo! Aquí yo también me tiro al sarten."

 

Then came the dancers and Journey cover band, con su música celestial,

Y lo disfrutamos todos, … una noche sin igual … ¡Y con mucho mezcal!

 

The weekend that happened went from one joy to another,

AHS friendships had made us sister and brother.

 

But the joy can be traced back to that Calenda,

with that native spirit, pure love and no agenda.

 

So, friends, let’s make sure that we meet again real soon,

perhaps in two years, en Cuernavaca, we'll join you to commune!