This Side of Early

By Naomi Ayala

Naomi Ayala's poems explore wide-ranging themes in an ever-changing landscape--from the city streets to the introspective solace of the woods. These lyrics deconstruct the political world of man, offer hope through a compelling, lyrical, spiritual intimacy, and bridge the gap between the two with words full of ecological intensity. Her deep connections with the working class combine with a love of the land to offer us lilt and dream, revelation and foretelling.

"HOLE"
One morning
they dig up the sidewalk and leave.
No sign of the truck--only the large,
dark shadow digging and digging,
piling up sludge with a hand shovel
beside the only tree.
Two o'clock I come by
and he's slumbering in the grass beside rat holes.
Three and he's stretched across a jagged stonewall,
folded hands tucked beneath one ear--
a beautiful young boy smiling,
not the heavy, large shadow who can't breathe.
Four-thirty and the August heat
takes one down here.
He's pulled up an elbow joint
some three feet round.
At seven I head home for the night,
pass the fresh gravel mound,
a soft footprint near the manhole
like the "x" abuelo would place beside his name
all the years he couldn't write.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1931896461
• ISBN13: 9781931896467
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Curbstone Press
• Length: 90 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.5" x 8.6"