POEMS
(The poems for this issue were chosen by Philip Levine.)
GarySoto
SPIRIT
When Grandma cried
Hugging the shirt
Flecked with
Your blood
You stood in the room again
You saw her drop
To her knees
Kiss
the rosary
And repeat prayers
Until a white paste
Gathered in the corners
Of her mouth
The next morning
Your cup and plate
Brimmed with cemetery grass
And the sofa
You gave Grandpa
Turned and faced south
We know you came back father
And in the doorway
Leading to your bedroom
Wanted to fog
The family's photo
With the breath .
You did not have
