Morning Drive, March 2019

written By

May 11, 2019

In such a serpentine situation
As Interstate 410 before eight a.m.,
Language is not quite precise—
Aggro jazz
Of chrysalis lives,
Some in Chryslers
          Accelerating,
     Halting to complete
Stops,
     Swerving between artificial lanes,
Closing gaps between HUMONGOUS
Buicks with grannies behind the wheel
Who should’ve stayed home instead
Driving their pinche wheelchairs

In such a serpentine situation as this,
I’m not quite sure yet where
Language is leading me,
But fortunately—
I’m happy to report this—
The sky is cloudless,
Clear as a summertime pool,
And I’d like nothing more than to
Dive in,
Swim a few laps,
Wet-shimmy like a slithery cottonmouth,
Outrace those squawking grackles mocking me daily

Author

Alex Z. Salinas

Alex Z. Salinas is the author of three poetry collections and a book of stories, City Lights From the Upside Down (San Antonio Review Press), which was included in the National Book Critics Circle’s Critical Notes. His poetry collection Hispanic Sonnets (FlowerSong Press) is his latest book, with Trash Poems (Gnashing Teeth Publishing) forthcoming in 2023. Salinas holds an M.A. in English Literature and Language from St. Mary’s University, and lives in San Antonio, Texas.

Salinas