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"City
of the Lost" (for Ed Field) by
Richard Vargas
i
live in a city where the people have no shame
how else could they justify throwing their fast food
trash out the window as they drive down its hot streets
as if to say "look at me, i don’t give a shit."
they unwrap sticks of chewing gum as they walk
up to the post office, dropping tiny bits of foil
and paper
leaving a trail to help them find their way back
to their SUV in the parking lot.
they leave spoiled disposable diapers tucked behind
newspaper vending machines
smelly calling cards to remind us they exist
and have mastered the art of procreation
the
broken glass in the gutters give the illusion of roads
decorated with jeweled glitter and precious shine
a conquistador’s wet dream
when
la llorona comes sweeping
down on the city from the sandia mountains to the
east
she races up and down its streets and alleys
creating a fierce ugly wind blowing litter
and garbage across the desert into arizona
legend has it she is looking
for her long lost children
and
here
she has found them
*********************
"Spider-Man
in Albuquerque by
Richard Vargas
he
walked away from the city
and the bright lights
found a town where a tall
building is considered
anything
over two stories
he doesn’t miss the super
hero gig
all the bad guys now wear
suits
and class rings from
ivy league schools
where’s the fun in that?
the
closest he came to
helping someone in distress
in his new city was the time
two cops chased a homeless
man away from patio seating at
one of the trendy restaurants
in nob hill
he
caught up with the guy
gave him a couple of bucks
he felt good about it
better than any ass whipping
he
ever had to dish out to the
freak
of the week
he
misses his girl
the dimple in her wicked
smile when he used to tie
her up with his webbing
practicing
various japanese
s&m knots
maryjane married rich
lives in northern calif
raises
championship
horses and hosts
republican fundraisers
where
the highlight of the
evening is when the band
plays
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon..."
and the wealthy get up
to shake their booty
on
hot summer nights
he latches on to the top
of a city bus
rides up and down
central ave from
the sandia mountains
all the way downtown
counts a star in the desert
sky for every regret he
ever had and then counts
another one for everytime
he felt like the luckiest
man alive
****
Richard
Vargas was born in Compton, educated in Paramount
and Long Beach,
and now lives in a constant state of enchantment in
New Mexico.
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