Tongues

Poetry by Christine Amezquita, Fall 2013

* 

I am picking pears

from the backyard tree

singing:

Ah beh sey

            de eh efe hey

I am

              the sun      at dusk,

he tells me

Duérmete,

vete        ya es tiempo.

acheh e hota ka

              ellay       emay

                           ehney ehnay

      undressed,

water                 from the river

and rises to my tobillos.

         the tendons

of mi abuelita’s chestnut skin,

a topography map de su apellido

         to this bath,

as her hand drives

through the tina

to shower on my head.

oh peh ku

                   errrrrrreh        teh

To pour heated leche

necesitas a cuidarse. Wrap the handle

in una toalla and             away

from oneself.

ou veh

              exis             zeta

There is night

on the tongue

*

Christine Amezquita is currently an MFA candidate at Georgia College and State University. She is originally from the Midwest.