This Side of Early

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.