WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.100 align:middle line:90%


00:00:09.100 --> 00:00:11.620 align:middle line:84%
And on that theme
of border crossing,

00:00:11.620 --> 00:00:15.130 align:middle line:84%
these are all poems
from a fourth collection

00:00:15.130 --> 00:00:17.070 align:middle line:90%
that I'm working on.

00:00:17.070 --> 00:00:18.405 align:middle line:90%
And the way to try them out.

00:00:18.405 --> 00:00:20.280 align:middle line:84%
It's so different when
you're trying them out

00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:21.697 align:middle line:84%
in front of your
computer at home.

00:00:21.697 --> 00:00:23.280 align:middle line:90%
They sound really great.

00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:25.230 align:middle line:84%
But so you have the
pressure of all these ears

00:00:25.230 --> 00:00:28.985 align:middle line:84%
and you have to be a little
more attuned to the work.

00:00:28.985 --> 00:00:30.610 align:middle line:84%
It's not going to
end with as long-- it

00:00:30.610 --> 00:00:33.640 align:middle line:84%
began with a long piece and
I'll end with a long piece.

00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:35.770 align:middle line:84%
It's called the "Border
Crosser's Pillow Book."

00:00:35.770 --> 00:00:40.080 align:middle line:84%
And it's modeled or
inspired by the Pillow

00:00:40.080 --> 00:00:44.230 align:middle line:90%
Book of Sei Shonagon.

00:00:44.230 --> 00:00:46.540 align:middle line:90%
Things that shine in the night.

00:00:46.540 --> 00:00:49.840 align:middle line:84%
Fulgencio Silver
Crown when he snores,

00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:52.870 align:middle line:84%
the moon glaring like
the coin of Judas.

00:00:52.870 --> 00:00:55.630 align:middle line:84%
All the smaller
medals we call stars.

00:00:55.630 --> 00:00:59.890 align:middle line:84%
My buckle, the tips of my
boots, the stones in my kidneys,

00:00:59.890 --> 00:01:03.520 align:middle line:90%
an earring, a tear on the cheek.

00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:05.470 align:middle line:90%
The forked paths of the zipper.

00:01:05.470 --> 00:01:07.810 align:middle line:84%
The blade of the
pocketknife triggering open.

00:01:07.810 --> 00:01:10.360 align:middle line:84%
The blade of the pocketknife
seducing the orange.

00:01:10.360 --> 00:01:12.550 align:middle line:84%
The blade of the pocket
knife salivating.

00:01:12.550 --> 00:01:14.140 align:middle line:90%
The blade of the pocket knife.

00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:17.860 align:middle line:90%
The word Mexico, the word migra.

00:01:17.860 --> 00:01:20.740 align:middle line:84%
Things that are afraid
to move when they sleep.

00:01:20.740 --> 00:01:22.750 align:middle line:90%
The owls carved on rock.

00:01:22.750 --> 00:01:25.180 align:middle line:90%
Fulgencio, me.

00:01:25.180 --> 00:01:27.070 align:middle line:90%
Things that forget their shapes.

00:01:27.070 --> 00:01:30.100 align:middle line:84%
Snakes, our bedding,
our clothes,

00:01:30.100 --> 00:01:32.170 align:middle line:84%
the shadows twitching
by the fire.

00:01:32.170 --> 00:01:34.540 align:middle line:84%
The skin of the
rabbit, its flesh.

00:01:34.540 --> 00:01:38.500 align:middle line:84%
An Apple, the orange, the
jacaranda behind the house.

00:01:38.500 --> 00:01:40.670 align:middle line:84%
The roof, the
clothesline, the curtains,

00:01:40.670 --> 00:01:42.760 align:middle line:84%
the door that swells in
the heat, the pipes that

00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:43.810 align:middle line:90%
shrink in the cold.

00:01:43.810 --> 00:01:45.610 align:middle line:90%
The couch, the table, the lamp.

00:01:45.610 --> 00:01:47.920 align:middle line:84%
The dominoes, the dishes,
the children, the wife,

00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:48.670 align:middle line:90%
the neighbor's.

00:01:48.670 --> 00:01:50.520 align:middle line:90%
Memory.

00:01:50.520 --> 00:01:52.830 align:middle line:90%
Things that make noises at dawn.

00:01:52.830 --> 00:01:55.740 align:middle line:84%
The sun as it drips
away from the horizon.

00:01:55.740 --> 00:01:58.590 align:middle line:84%
The sun as it pounds
against my skin.

00:01:58.590 --> 00:02:00.960 align:middle line:90%
The sand moaning with my weight.

00:02:00.960 --> 00:02:03.390 align:middle line:90%
My weight moaning with the sand.

00:02:03.390 --> 00:02:05.100 align:middle line:90%
The stones of my kidneys.

00:02:05.100 --> 00:02:07.860 align:middle line:84%
Children waking up in
the homes we left behind.

00:02:07.860 --> 00:02:10.889 align:middle line:84%
The footfalls, the
footprints, the foot.

00:02:10.889 --> 00:02:15.000 align:middle line:84%
Fulgencio's prayer
without saints or God.

00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.490 align:middle line:84%
Things that open like
flowers in daylight.

00:02:17.490 --> 00:02:21.450 align:middle line:84%
Fulgencio's eyes, Fulgencio's
mouth as he yawns.

00:02:21.450 --> 00:02:22.860 align:middle line:90%
The buttons on his shirt.

00:02:22.860 --> 00:02:26.130 align:middle line:84%
The orange peel, the campsite,
the desert, the world.

00:02:26.130 --> 00:02:27.960 align:middle line:90%
The jacaranda behind the house.

00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:30.190 align:middle line:84%
The roof, the
clothesline, the curtains.

00:02:30.190 --> 00:02:31.830 align:middle line:84%
The door that
swells in the heat.

00:02:31.830 --> 00:02:33.660 align:middle line:84%
The pipes that
shrink in the cold.

00:02:33.660 --> 00:02:36.960 align:middle line:84%
The couch, the table, the
lamp, the dominoes, the dishes.

00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:38.970 align:middle line:84%
The children, the
wife, the neighbors.

00:02:38.970 --> 00:02:41.290 align:middle line:90%
Memory.

00:02:41.290 --> 00:02:43.060 align:middle line:90%
The white sparks in my brain.

00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:44.680 align:middle line:90%
The red sparks in my heart.

00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.500 align:middle line:90%
The stones in my kidneys.

00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:50.290 align:middle line:84%
Things that travel at
the speed of silence.

00:02:50.290 --> 00:03:00.730 align:middle line:84%
Air, sand, heat, light, grief,
memory, thought, Fulgencio, me.

00:03:00.730 --> 00:03:04.090 align:middle line:84%
Things I would say to
Fulgencio if I could say them.

00:03:04.090 --> 00:03:05.770 align:middle line:90%
Let's go back.

00:03:05.770 --> 00:03:07.690 align:middle line:90%
Let's keep going.

00:03:07.690 --> 00:03:09.320 align:middle line:90%
Stop.

00:03:09.320 --> 00:03:10.690 align:middle line:90%
Run.

00:03:10.690 --> 00:03:12.140 align:middle line:90%
I hate you.

00:03:12.140 --> 00:03:13.660 align:middle line:90%
I love you get.

00:03:13.660 --> 00:03:14.780 align:middle line:90%
Away from me.

00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:15.880 align:middle line:90%
Hug me.

00:03:15.880 --> 00:03:17.050 align:middle line:90%
Kiss me.

00:03:17.050 --> 00:03:18.340 align:middle line:90%
I'm sorry.

00:03:18.340 --> 00:03:19.420 align:middle line:90%
Hold me.

00:03:19.420 --> 00:03:20.620 align:middle line:90%
Hold me.

00:03:20.620 --> 00:03:22.270 align:middle line:90%
Hold me.

00:03:22.270 --> 00:03:24.730 align:middle line:90%
Things I want to polish clean.

00:03:24.730 --> 00:03:28.630 align:middle line:84%
An Apple, and another
one, and another.

00:03:28.630 --> 00:03:31.180 align:middle line:90%
My buckle, the tips of my boots.

00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:34.000 align:middle line:84%
Fulgencio's forehead,
our tracks in the sand,

00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:36.960 align:middle line:84%
the ring on my
finger, the horizon.

00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:38.920 align:middle line:84%
its an infestation
of green cars.

00:03:38.920 --> 00:03:42.670 align:middle line:84%
The word wetback, the voice,
the bull horn, the officer,

00:03:42.670 --> 00:03:44.500 align:middle line:90%
Fulgencio's tears of shame.

00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:45.910 align:middle line:90%
The sores on his shoes.

00:03:45.910 --> 00:03:49.000 align:middle line:84%
The sound of static, of
running motors, of running men.

00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:50.920 align:middle line:90%
The jacaranda behind the house.

00:03:50.920 --> 00:03:53.030 align:middle line:84%
The roof, the
clothesline, the curtains.

00:03:53.030 --> 00:03:54.580 align:middle line:84%
The door that
swells in the heat.

00:03:54.580 --> 00:03:56.350 align:middle line:84%
The pipes that
shrink in the cold.

00:03:56.350 --> 00:03:58.120 align:middle line:90%
The couch, the table, the lamp.

00:03:58.120 --> 00:03:59.770 align:middle line:90%
The dominoes, the dishes.

00:03:59.770 --> 00:04:01.720 align:middle line:84%
The children, the
wife, the neighbors.

00:04:01.720 --> 00:04:02.530 align:middle line:90%
Memory.

00:04:02.530 --> 00:04:04.240 align:middle line:90%
The stones in my kidneys.

00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:05.650 align:middle line:90%
I set them in gold.

00:04:05.650 --> 00:04:10.012 align:middle line:84%
I set them in gold and try
to wear them like teeth.

00:04:10.012 --> 00:04:10.845 align:middle line:90%
Thank you very much.

00:04:10.845 --> 00:04:25.180 align:middle line:90%
[APPLAUSE] to.