Between the Peel and the Seed

Between the Peel and the Seed

It’s the mango fibers caught between the teeth,

or men working in sugarcane plantations

living in close quarters.

It’s fear el negrito will wake-up

on the street without an education

after a serious hurricane.

It’s the consuming image of sculpted ice

bleeding away, and what we say

when we approach the ocean.

It’s a woman and her baby smeared

all over someone’s parking space

while an exterminating angel

walks into a church wearing

ten thousand dollar suits,

and he’s running

for governor.