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