Apparently, I forgot to set up this week’s poetry circle ahead of time, but I didn’t forget.
Welcome to the 56th Virtual Circle!
Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.
Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.
Today, we’re looking at a contemporary poem from J. Michael Martinez and his book Heredities, which won the Walt Whitman Award in 2009:
Xicano (page 6)
as light
shaped by trajectory.
a wind settles in the body.
Echécatl the breath, the flint & spark.
the house of prayers.
I am
when sounds exchange questions
when light enters the lung
when given
the noun: a variable absence
a law pinned to a quail’s wing.
Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let’s have a great discussion…pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.
I’ve you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles. It’s never too late to join the discussion.
I’d definitely need to spend some more time reading this one, time I unfortunately don’t have right now. I read it over three times and have no clue what it’s about, unless I’m just dimwitted. Please enlighten me oh wise one. LOL
Xicano, from what I could find, is the correct spelling for Chicano, who are U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. It almost seems that there is a protest to classification in this poem, like he is protesting that the wind or the light decides who and where he goes.
I’m not sure that’s a correct interpretation however. This is my first time with these poems.