(for Luciano, Erik and Jorge)



Why does it matter
that words land
on paper and enter the ears?

That lovers hold hands?

Why is it important
that poetic leaders linger at cafes
long into the night
after the readings
remembering absent friends
from the start of it all
and the mandate of
common aspirations
for their community
their language, and the new waves of art
in those decades-gone days of youthful ideals
birthing avant-garde circles
of music, literature and culture?

Over their drinks
the poets
who consider themselves veterans
gathered after tonight’s reading
shaking their heads at
the low turn-out after all
the effort
looking for ghosts of their comrades
who in the early days
were as passionate as they

But then again, why should it matter now
that on nights after other readings
years ago
a man and a woman took one other's hands
and walked together?


All the investment
just for
the love of it?

05/13/2004