This is the Mexican
   Don Jose Calderon
   One of God’s countrymen. 
   Land of the buzzard. 
   Cheap silver dollar, and
   Cacti and murderers. 
   Why has he left his land
   Land of the lazy man,
   Land of the pulque
   Land of the bull fight,
   Fleas and revolution.

   This is the reason,
   Hark to the wherefore;
   Listen and tremble. 
   One of his ancestors,
   Ancient and garlicky,
   Probably grandfather,
   Died with his boots on. 
   Killed by the Texans,
   Texans with big guns,
   At San Jacinto. 
   Died without benefit
   Of priest or clergy;
   Died full of minie balls,
   Mescal and pepper.

   Don Jose Calderon
   Heard of the tragedy. 
   Heard of it, thought of it,
   Vowed a deep vengeance;
   Vowed retribution
   On the Americans,
   Murderous gringos,
   Especially Texans. 
   “Valga me Dios! que
   Ladrones, diablos,
   Matadores, mentidores,
   Caraccos y perros,
   Voy a matarles,
   Con solos mis manos,
   Toditas sin falta.” 
   Thus swore the Hidalgo
   Don Jose Calderon.

   He hied him to Austin. 
   Bought him a basket,
   A barrel of pepper,
   And another of garlic;
   Also a rope he bought. 
   That was his stock in trade;
   Nothing else had he. 
   Nor was he rated in
   Dun or in Bradstreet,
   Though he meant business,
   Don Jose Calderon,
   Champion of Mexico,
   Don Jose Calderon,
   Seeker of vengeance.

   With his stout lariat,
   Then he caught swiftly
   Tomcats and puppy dogs,
   Caught them and cooked them,
   Don Jose Calderon,
   Vower of vengeance. 
   Now on the sidewalk
   Sits the avenger
   Selling Tamales to
   Innocent purchasers. 
   Dire is thy vengeance,
   Oh, Jose Calderon,
   Pitiless Nemesis
   Fearful Redresser
   Of the wrongs done to thy
   Sainted grandfather.

   Now the doomed Texans,
   Rashly hilarious,
   Buy of the deadly wares,
   Buy and devour. 
   Rounders at midnight,
   Citizens solid,
   Bankers and newsboys,
   Bootblacks and preachers,
   Rashly importunate,
   Courting destruction. 
   Buy and devour. 
   Beautiful maidens
   Buy and devour,
   Gentle society youths
   Buy and devour.

   Buy and devour
   This thing called Tamale;
   Made of rat terrier,
   Spitz dog and poodle. 
   Maltese cat, boarding house
   Steak and red pepper. 
   Garlic and tallow,
   Corn meal and shucks. 
   Buy without shame
   Sit on store steps and eat,
   Stand on the street and eat,
   Ride on the cars and eat,
   Strewing the shucks around
   Over creation.