Saddle Road Press
January 2, 2016
January 2, 2016
I am reminded of ee cummings, not merely by the lack of capitalization and punctuation, but because these poem are largely free verse while simultaneously, somehow, beautifully structured. “song for fear” is an ode, not to fear, but to survival, control and containment. Silva decided that the endless struggle with fear would destroy her and a sort of rapprochement is reached:
i see you now
fear
there is a place for you here
and there is work for you
but you cannot remain
rampant and uncontrolled
you cannot claim
my entire body as your
refuge your hideout your food
in return
i promise
not to eat you
i won’t tear at you
with my teeth
poisoning myself
i will watch over you
and it will be safe
for you to be a small
and furred creature
and at dawn i will remember
to sing to you too
In “diabetic love song” Silva has
been motivated, spurred on by the disease and her use of repetition here is musical
and potent:
given that
time is short
given that
the number of my days is unknown
i have no
patience now for people who put off their dreams
people
without dreams
people
dedicated to accumulation and consumption
people who fill their lives with drama and noise
To be sure there are laments and elegies to and for her many family
members felled by diabetes but there is also humor and hope. “tequilita” (note
the endearment) is an ode to exactly what it sounds like and yet another thing
denied to her.
though from nineteen to
twenty-eight, we rampaged from one coast to another, in south texas, on the
other side of the border, in austin and san antonio. you made the lights, the
singing, the dancing all the more beautiful. you were so much a part of me, i
even learned to answer to your name.
“the diabetic lover” is deliciously sexy and affectionate and funny.
it’s not recommended, my
love
that i cover your body with
whip crème
and chocolate
syrup
![]() |
ire'ne lara silva |
maraschino
cherries
for aesthetic
emphasis
i could not dust you
with enough whey
protein
to make up for all
those empty
carbohydrates
Turns out the answer is strategically placed granules of turbinado raw
cane sugar. “i call myself back” is an incantation invoking the mighty mujer, the poet reasserting herself, brimful of clear-eyed determination, tinged
with hope, spiced with indignation.
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