The dry breath
of this last cigarette
pleases me as I invent you
You are dry breathe
over the chest
and you make yourself irreverent
from the rain
the stones
the dust
comfort to so many
ivy nights
I concede fierceness to myself
if it is that you flirt
with my relief
A veil of flowers
covers my brief face and here
everyone goes at their own pace
We all share
an irrevocable fear
We all share
a fragile hunger’s body
We all share but you do not
share yourself with me even if I want you to
or because of it
Some day we will know if it’s true
that the ground withholds our steps
El aliento seco
de este último cigarrillo
me complace en inventarte
Eres aliento seco
sobre el pecho
y te haces irreverente
desde la lluvia
las piedras
el polvo
confort de tantas
noches en hiebra
Me concedo fiereza
si es que coqueteas
con mi alivio
Un velo de flores
me cubre la cara breve y aquí
todos andan a su propio paso
Compartimos todos
un temor irrevocable
Compartimos todos
una frágil hambre de cuerpo
Todos compartimos pero tu no
te me compartes aunque quiero
o por eso
Algún día sabremos si es verdad
que el suelo retiene los pasos
Originally published in Spanish in the poetry chapbook Entre tanto amarillo (Yellow Struck). Copyright © 2016 by Amanda Hernández. Used with permission of the author.