Nothing left to give and call it plausible

Image by Vitaliy Melnik

Rinconcito is a special little corner in Somos en escrito for short writings: a single poem, a short story, a memoir, flash fiction, and the like. 

Two Poems by Daniel Romo

Center Stage
 
Maybe it’s better the fickle wind rearranges the view. Who hasn’t thought How fake to look at such an artificially manicured landscape. The leaves ride the current as if mimicking the hands of a colorful conductor and the symphony is an ode to a fallen tree. Raking the lawn in A minor is synonymous with mourning the dead. We convince ourselves we have nothing left to give and call it plausible. We do the best with what we can and label it passable. To notice ones’ surroundings is to live as testament to Heaven. A Hells Angel pulls into the parking lot and his Harley is blasting a pop song about stealing sunshine. A ray is a set of straight lines passing through a single point. There is no way to deny the spotlight when we are caught blushing, and red-handed.

Down Here on the Ground
after Wes Montgomery
 
Cue the static that rubs like nerves against the desired grain. Note how the vinyl crackles like feeding notes to the fire, though each authentic sacrifice can be told solely from the gravity of its own ashes. Every sound is wrapped in a plea and prayer, regardless of the plight. The 11th commandment in essence states That which isn’t audible must be regarded as pliable to the touch. If rhythm were to replicate itself, it would be to the tune of improvisational hopscotch on loop. So many anxious toes, so little time for tapping. There is not enough jazz to capture the rhapsody of summer, to frame the fragrance of wilting lilies, to fade out like a grieving sunset in search of the next mourning. 

Daniel Romo was born in Grants Pass, Oregon. His latest book of poems is forthcoming in 2021 from Tebot Bach. He holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte, and he lives and teaches in Long Beach, CA. More at danielromo.wordpress.com.

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