By Yarisa Colón Torres. Translated by Leora Fridman.
There’s a boy
settled in his own eyes
he paws at the color
scribbling outside the lines
with the knife
just about to be loved
there’s no silence that can bury him
no word that can set him off
restless
he freezes and burns
the vertebrae staircase
he shudders from his skin in
throat
guts
while he wraps his head
in a plastic bag
*
Pánico
Escrito por Yarisa Colón Torres.
Existe un niño
instalado en su propia mirada
manosea el color
garabateando límites
con el cuchillo
a punto de ser amado
no hay silencio que lo sepulte
ni palabra que lo detone
inquieto
enfría y quema
la escalera de vértebras
jamaquea poros y corazón
garganta
intestinos
mientras se arropa la cabeza
con una bolsa plástica