Artifact March 2010
Our Women, this land, our future
Octavio Valdez Rodriguez
Her body is land.
engulfed in desire, an island: holding seas within,
the tangles of twilight;
crazed inhibitions,
pant, dance on
the summit of her palms;
rigid lace gowns have fallen, down the slopes of waxed legs;
a broad nudity dresses her silence
Her: she is: unchanged-open,
breasts in two: a womb. stare. a voice,
subtle, untamed; ink ages under tanned skin, curled hair, dyed. bleached. dry blown, she unravels the night, with the mystery of her tongue;
solace of men. bender of wills.
quiet. her lips, infer: perturb.
quake restraint, overthrow reason.
redefine morals. for:
sensual sustenance. a notion, a home, a chance.
Her body is autonomy. resolute.
freedom. of. advance: suggestion;
constitution of brazen flesh—
indecision, going both ways-or-one.
at a time. or two. or none, prudent. awaits;
time defines her. change. persuades her.
was her. is her. her she is—
one and the same. stocking the earth.
prowling motherhood. alone, accompanied. periodically searching. romantic naive, versed in touch
This land rests, it grows: widens.
narrows. closes. deepens;
the seas overpower her = poignant desire. land locked. surrounded. overwhelmed;
Her: she is—land, body. idea. woman. conviction, affected.
effected, strong tender. vulnerable independent.
vivacious darkness;
still she folds. succumbs. ails to a
universal discord: love.