Neruda in Six Haikus
I.
Huntress of the depths
Of my eyes, snare these pupils,
Blood tear trails your prize.
II.
Host flesh, locust teeth,
Waxen crypt candle after-
Taste like cinnamon.
III.
O Luna, listen:
Abandon me tonight, I
Crave death in lilac shades.
IV.
Sprinkle verse, twinkle
Glacial stars, Medusa’s stone
Grandmotherly gaze.
V.
I walk on callused
Soles to distant realms,
Love’s wondrous highlands.
VI.
A woman’s heart is
A breath birthed in an era’s
Warm milk, sugar-sweet glands.
This poem appears in Alex Z. Salinas’ new book of poetry, DREAMT, or The Lingering Phantoms of Equinox:
WARBLES, Alex Z. Salinas’ first collection of poetry, was the author’s attempt to reconcile his lifelong feeling of being sandwiched between cultures—and languages—in South Texas. In DREAMT, or The Lingering Phantoms of Equinox, Salinas’ second full-length poetry collection propels further his investigation of his identity by entering into the dream realm—populated by literary and musical influences such as Haruki Murakami, Roberto Bolaño, Ayn Rand, Sherman Alexie, John Coltrane and OutKast. By the book’s conclusion, Salinas brings to the surface the disturbing reality of the Trump administration, hopefully challenging his readers to ask themselves: So what action can I take next?
About the Author: Alex Z. Salinas lives in San Antonio, Texas. He is the author of two full-length poetry collections, WARBLES (2019) and DREAMT, or The Lingering Phantoms of Equinox (2020), both published by Hekate Publishing. His poems, short fiction and op-eds have appeared in various print and electronic publications. He holds an M.A. in English Literature and Language from St. Mary’s University.
More by Alex Z. Salinas:
The Great Thing About Driving With A Crack In Your Windshield
Image Credit: Photograph shows Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, seated at a table in front of a microphone in the Library of Congress Recording Laboratory, Studio B, Washington, D.C., during the recording of his poem “Alturas de Macchu Picchu” for the Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape. (1966) The Library of Congress (public domain)
As It Ought To Be 