Calle Larga

It was a loud night. I tiptoed the border

between dreams and reality

with newfound grace and slithered my

body through your window.

 

The night was deafening.

I swear I could hear the heavy smog

singing baritone lullabies and

southern wind slapping the leaves

 

so hard they screamed into my ear

like frightened children. The town

slumbered snoring in the hammock of

darkness, and I could see it dreaming

 

all over the main square with all the

short, stone streets expanding and contracting,

beating a solid old pulse as if to scare

the morning far, far away.

 

Ah, so I found your heart! Beating,

guarded with eroded stones planted here

by the first people who ever opened their eyes

to see you in all your glory and

 

these long roads pumping history like

blood through your veins with every

sharp breath you take in on this screaming

night unravelling before my eyes.

 

From the room, silent wheezy whispers

leave your lips like prayers. I feel you

calling me, and I pull myself away from the

asphalt plains of the ancient city.

 

Your skin shines like opal under the tangerine

veil of night lights. The turmoil abides you

and you sleep under my careful eyes

with innocence found only in toddlers.

 

Smog sings baritone lullabies just for you.

Sleep forever now and I will sit

at your bedside, stroking your thick black curls

so you never feel alone again.

Author's Note

Calle Larga is "long road" in Spanish.

Reviews

[Emily B]

the title drew me in, i find myself inspired in the presence of your words, you are a remarkable poet

[~]

This is quite the dream. I love the contrast between "frightened children" and "innocence of toddlers". This strikes me of both a dream of beauty and of sadness, in equal parts. It is something about the "bartone lullabies" the smog sings...it is a comfort. The last stanza.....superb. Honestly, I think this is gorgeous and your use of descriptive language really pulled me into this dream with you. Well penned, poet.