A Poet a Day 15: Carlos Reyes
Nothing says taxes like long lines and drinking. With tax day in mind, it’s my pleasure to feature two poems from Carlos Reyes, “In the Line at the Post Office,” and “Shot Glass.” Both poems appear The Book of Shadows (© 2009, Lost Horse Press), his recent collection of new and selected poems.
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE POEMS
The poems exemplify what Carlos does best — drill down to revelation through clean, thoughtful, and well-crafted language, while letting images carry and drive them forward. They remind me of Whitman’s adage that sometimes the power of a work has as much to do with what’s not being said as it does with what rests on the page.
In the Line at the Post Office
The man near
the head of the line
turns to face us
licks stamps
his tongue out
like someone
taking communion.
Up on the wall
Christ on the clock
arms outstretched
says quarter to three.
That his right hand tries
to raise itself, that
his left hand slumps
is an illusion.
The waterclock
has stopped, the
last seconds dry
on his pale wrists.
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Shot Glass
With the bottom
of the thick glass
he works chancres
into the mahogany
the heel of his hand
rests on what
germs reside there
though the bar
is wiped clean
and shines in the
light of the afternoon
sun stabbing through
the smoky glass
The bar is filthy
half the lives
who come here
are lost in the
dirty wiping rag
the other half
in the porous wood
plank where they
have left
—scratched there
with coins’ serrated edges—
their scars
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A Poet a Day is a month-long celebration of poets and poetry, in honor of National Poetry Month. Writers reserve all rights to their work, and all work appears with their permission.
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Tags: A Poet a Day, Carlos Reyes, Carlos Reyes poetry, National Poetry Month, northwest poet, Northwest poetry, Oregon poetry
