Iván Salinas
and
Jasson Bautista
Cross Genre
Sillas sin ningun par de nalgas que presionen su tela
Muebles inútiles sin nada que hacer
salieron a darse un baño de sol antes de que desaparecieran
Rodearon un árbol
y empezarón a meditar OHMMMM
energia telepalgodonica
Pasarón días despues años
asientos envejeciendo
en la misma esquina con nuevas hojas
sobre la tela y el pavimento
sin que en su casa blanca se acordaran
que se deshicieron de sus sobras
para siempre
la nota roja publico que
una pandilla de sillas–cartel de tela
se ha apoderado del barrio
pasando el rato
a pocas cuadras de todas las bodegas donde fueron fabricabadas
ICE ordenó otra redada en el valle
y deja más sillas vacias en los suburbios
más calles vacías sin peatones
más bodegas vacias sin trabajadores
más muebles que habitan en las esquinas
porque sus dueños ya no viven por acá
mucho menos en esa casa blanca
que la estan vendiendo a lo triple
¡OHMMMMM-MÁS!
el tiempo creado de la tela gira alrededor del tronco
el tiempo corre al ritmo de palabras escritas sobre una
página digital, lineaje del árbol
a las seis de la mañana lo cortan para ser
procesado en un rectangulo blanco de 8.5 x 11 pulgadas
y llenarlo de pensamientos aleatorios con tinta
Las sillas se cubrieron de tierra y les crecieron hojas nacidas de grietas en la tela
porque quisieron ser paraíso de pasto
todo este tiempo sin nalgas y Van Nuys aun huele a gas
en la esquina, un reloj con mane-sillas nacio de una mudanza
donde el tiempo se despide de la tarde
y despedaza el árbol familiar
Chairs without a pair of buttcheeks to sit on their fabric
useless furniture with nothing to do
went out for a sunbath before they disappeared
They circled a tree
and began to meditate OHMMMM
telepacottonic energy
Days passed then years
seats kept aging
in the same corner with new leaves
on the fabric and the pavement
without their white house remembering
they got rid of their leftovers
forever
the red note published that
a gang of chairs–the fabric cartel
has taken over the neighborhood
hanging out
just a few blocks away from all the warehouses where they were manufactured
ICE ordered another raid in the valley
and left more empty chairs in the suburbs
more empty streets without pedestrians
more empty warehouses without workers
more furniture that inhabit street corners
cause their owners no longer live around here
much less in that white house
that is selling for triple
ORMMMMM-MORE!
time created from the fabric goes around the trunk
time runs to the rhythm of words written on a
digital page, lineage of a tree
at six in the morning its cut off to be
processed to an 8.5 x 11 inch white rectangle
and fill it with random ass thoughts on ink
The chairs covered themselves with dirt and leaves grew from the cracks in the fabric
because they wanted to be a paradise of grass
All this time and no ass and Van Nuys still smells like gas
in the corner, clockhand chairs were born from a move
where time waves goodbye to the afternoon
and chops down the family tree
Carritos Cruzando La Avenida
extrañas a pie y en automóvil gris
ventanillas blindadas y mitades de caras
después de compras caminan a la par
en la sombra de primavera
por un minuto en la banqueta
primera y última vez que se encuentran
se miran a los ojos y una embolsa carne molida
la otra embolsa detergente y papel higiénico
con mi carrito y el tuyo
vamos en una aventura
desafiando el tráfico
en sentido contrarios
qué te parece si…
cambiamos de lugar
y tu caminas y yo manejo
o tu te vas de compras y yo te espero
yo me trago tu gasolina y tu te comes mi papel de baño
vendo tu carro y me compro una oficina recién vacante
duermo en tu cama y tu trabajas en la fábrica
me llega tu sueldo y compro más muebles nuevos
pa fuera con los viejos
que se los lleven
y los reciclen en platos de papel
pa comprarlos baratos en la 99c
Carts Crossing The Street
strangers on foot and in a gray car
tinted windows and half faces
after shopping they walk side by side
in the spring shadow
for a minute at the curb
first and last time they meet
They look into each other's eyes and one bags ground beef,
the other bags detergent and toilet paper
with my cart and yours
let's go on an adventure
braving the traffic
in opposite directions
what do you think if…
we switch places
you walk & I drive
or you go shopping & I'll wait for you
I swallow your gasoline & you eat my toilet paper
I sell your car & I buy a newly vacant office
I sleep in your bed & you work in the factory
I get your salary & I buy more new furniture
out with the old
take them away
and recycle them into paper plates
to buy them for cheap at the 99c store
Bios
Iván Salinas is an undocumented poet born en Ciudad de México and has lived in the San Fernando Valley for most of his life. He received a BA in English, Creative Writing, from Cal State Northridge. He is Assistant Editor at Drifter Zine, a publication highlighting artists of the 818 and beyond. His poems have appeared in Backlash Lit, Curious Publishing, Dryland, and La Raíz Magazine. Iván is the current Programs Coordinator at Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center and lives in Panorama City with Madi and their dog Rocket.
Jasson Bautista is a photographer and native of the San Fernando Valley. He documents the valley’s culture and lifestyle.