PALE GREEN SPECK
by Oswaldo Vargas
I leave you a lantern
in case someone prays to the engine
that comes to life earlier in the morning
and you’re running late
-
For a second the pale blue dot goes green
-
When I pour diesel on you it gets the grease off Your hands will be cleaner
now free to journal in the meadow we buried a calf in The neighbor tracked how long you held me after I’m grateful you didn’t have the time to shave If there are cuts, let them be windows
My synapses colliding can be seen
Let there be light on the murals of when you hugged me or when the embers of an engine collided
after tugging on a thread of yours.
About the author
Oswaldo Vargas is a former farmworker, a graduate from the University of California, Davis and a 2021 Undocupoets Fellow. Anthology features include Nepantla: An Anthology Dedicated to Queer Poets of Color and Puro Chicanx Writers of the 21st Century. His work can also be seen in The Louisville Review, Queen Mob’s Teahouse, Huizache, West Trade Review, Narrative (upcoming) and the Green Mountains Review tribute issue to former U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera (among others). He lives and dreams in Sacramento, California.