CARLOS

Carlos
rides the F train
at five am
still half asleep
lunch pail and construction
hat in his lap
I see the shimmer of island
palms that he carries with him
I hear his Papi’s shout
as he passes me
the taste of his Mami’s 
rice and beans
brushes my lips
and I sway to the
merengue that flows
from his feet
as he dances
up the stairs
and out of his dream 

REBIRTH

Say something
speak up
I can’t hear you
whispering
in the corner

say something
or wave your arms
so I can see that
you are still able to move 

turn your head away
from the wall
look out here
towards the light 

open your fists
and let the blood
on them thicken 

let the scars heal
and the day you face
will blind you at first  

but then it will
guide you down your
own birth canal
back to yourself 

YOU ARE MAGIC

You are magic
reduced to reason
you are tall tale
reduced to common sense
you are unity
reduced to a battle
you are the sky
reduced to a cloud
you are the earth
tied to one place
you are the music
tied to one note
you are all
tied to some
you are forever
tied to the moment
but not for long
soon you will discover
that you are
the dance
and you are
the song.