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.
