Art by Angela de Hoyos

POST-A-POEM SERIES. Oct. 1990 ©
poetry Editor: Juan Cardenas
MandA Publications
San Antonio, Tejas

TONIGHT I DISCOVERED
A NEW PLANET

Tonight I discovered a new planet.
I found it revolved around
the top of my head,
then spun toward its own galaxy,,
pulling every thought and dream
out of my head.
Tonight I discovered a new planet
that exploded into existence
the day I was born, but tool'
36 years of my life to reach me
when its light hit me
across the face,
made me look up,
drooling at my mistakes
orbiting above my sinking body,
constellations of swat/owed songs
I gave to myself when I was dumb
and didn't know anything,
couldn't identify the globe of dawn
as the shooting light
of what I would become.
Tonight I discovered a new planet
and raged at the astronomers for
telling me I needed a telescope
to crash through the haze
that belonged to me.
Tonight I studied star charts
I made up on the spot,
found the answer by falling
and removing my head
to hold it against my heart
like}e my new planet.
Tonight I went outside
before anyone could laugh at me
and pointed to my new body.
It glowed in the sky as
a ball of desire and matter,
sparkled like a radioactive lover
wasting the earth,
orbiting around my axis as words
I fired light years ago.

888—RAY GONZALEZ ©