Coming of Age in Tepoztlan

This is what we were
Waiting for:

Fifteen year old girl
Dressed in white…
Entourage of fifteen year
Old boys in black suits and ties,
Like child Sinatras,
Dance with her slowly
In performance.

She goes upstairs.
Her family comes down
Before her.
She follows down, through
An arch of white balloons
Carrying a doll; a baby cry
Over the p.a. system.
Someone takes the doll away.
She is crowned.

The crowd of people watching
Has been silent
All evening.