LatinosUSA

The subtle difference

between cattle prods & pinpricks

in the fields, folds, & waves

of sciatic ocean

dualistic flashing codes

break down to fractions & pie

golden ratio beholden

through visceral visions, blinks, & signs

nostalgic troubadours still rock

that wayfaring style

a lick for the lesion

a cut for the groove

the tease of 12 seasons

principles, patterns, & rules

boggy marsh, shadow prone, boils & burps

perception by degree raises sail

or slowly takes the plunging concession

soiled plots of fate & fortune

laid bare before us

once entombed relics & bones

now a truce, nature winks

spent dirt tilled fresh

for flowers of six varietals –

roses, orchids, daffodils, lilies,

morning glories, & purple queens

Triangulating the aura

of sacred kiss & viral downtick

as the buildup of seven ages 

(microdot of flashing light, initial pulse

of vibration, ethereal soundscape, spiraling whip

of cellular osmosis & carbon conception,

rise of organic civilization, dark age

disseminating false illumination, golden scales

of portal’s unveiling)

sighs inward before

the gasp of exhalation

howls the winds to quartered

safe stations

and cracks open the center

Have you ever transcribed the emotion

of an album you’re absorbing

for the first time

synchronically backwards

as a poem pouring out in time

decades on down the line

from when it was recorded?

The existence of distance

a misnomer

Ideas of separate matters

simply illusory

Sturdy oaks have truths to whisper

spring winds a-coiling

temps set for rise of ire

or gentle swarm of anxious tingling

keys & brushstrokes of life

shivering spinal chakras

tapped moods & emotions

the whims of mother earth

& father sky

humble token of love & grace

ashes, dust, & smoke signal I(still)OUs

chimes hung from porch, roar of motor

blade meets blade of grass & green onion

absolving salves & psalms

scriptures, ointments, songs, verbs

holding the form best we can

for the inevitable changing of tune

&, oh, sweet mystery of misery

I’ve reaped a dark lullaby for use

Bio:

Scott Thomas Outlar originally hails from Lilburn, Georgia. He now resides and writes in Frederick, Maryland. His work has been nominated multiple times for both the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. He guest-edited the Hope Anthology of Poetry from CultureCult Press as well as the 2019-2023 Western Voices editions of Setu Mag. Selections of his poetry have been translated and published in 15 languages. More about Outlar’s work can be found at 17Numa.com.