Poetry

Reuters photo

By

Alejandro Escudé

El Submarino

The brass of the cranks turning within you,

the gears, the valves, all of it turning 

within you, so that I am your submarine. 

Many times, as an expatriate, I hear 

Americans say they want to visit 

Buenos Aires; “like Paris” they say. 

I tell them it’s a small train station, 

walkways overtaken by weeds, junky 

metal gates, corrugated roofs. 

I tell them it’s sipping mate on 

a hot and humid afternoon, a fútbol game 

on a radio, Boca versus Lanús.

But after today’s news, I’d rather say 

Argentina is you —your smiles, cold 

lapping waves,  your hijos and hijas, 

your lost calls, your many cielos or skies 

or heavens. 

Alejandro Escudé

Alejandro Escudé’s first book of poems, My Earthbound Eye, was published in September 2013. He holds a master’s degree in creative writing from UC Davis and teaches English. Originally from Argentina, Alejandro lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.