ISAÍAS ROGEL

by gestures[1] 

a distance as great as that which separates
meted out by iniquitous monsters
so-and-so and so-and-so and so-and-so
why behave?
Here is he, Him and He will order, so be it

i didn’t know
i didn’t know what I was saying when I said that what he knew how to do would do no good.
a heartrending spectacle transformed
the soil i navigate, a vast barren wasteland

who reside in Hot Land

A dandelion-blooming-spring covering analgesic drugs.
Dandelions blooming in spring cover analgesic drugs.
A dandelion blooms through thick accent      overlaid           over years       over-year
             Where have I heard that one before? concrete jungle where dreams are made of yeah I’m
out that _______ now I’m down in______ right next to DeNiro: I’ll be hood forever.
A Dandelion blooms where dreams are made of
sandra cisneros are made of
lest we forget, La Malinche is made of.
It’s too close to home,
and it’s too near the bone.

Did you notice the lower case?
Mcdonalds closed, make room for Mcdonalds closer, 2002 Mcdonalds.
Domestic violence; domestic affairs.
Did you notice the semi-colon?

Predictably domestic.
                                        Queering domesticity.
             Predictably cement.
A dandelion blooms through thick cement    lay the mix      layover                        over.

at a distance[2]

our Lord has given me                          glorious success
numb(er)less people,               all I have taken.
                                  San Salvador
                                  Santa María de Concepcion
                                  Fernandina
                                  Isabella
                                  Juana
Impossible to speak                    Impossible to speak
(is it possible to speak)                            (read and ask yourself, am I speak[ing])
nothing new

the wind was against my proceeding
I decided to make for the south
                                  I heard from other _____I had already taken __ this land
was
most extensive.
The land                  elevated,
they                          never lose their foliage,
varieties,
                                  the graceful peculiarities
                                  honey,
                                  mines of metals and
                                  innumerable people
                                                       rich and fertile.
So high [I] seemed to touch the sky.

trees of
as trees
with blossoms,
with fruit
palm trees
trees, fruits and grasses.
There is honey,
of fruits
The trees, fruits and grasses

mines of metals (and innumerable people.)
of which bear gold (and innumerable people.)
other metals in this (and innumerable people.)

nor are they fit for them
nor are they
nor                      for them
        are they[?]
                             graceful peculiarities
               they appear extraordinarily timid.
               they [I] appear

I protected them from all injury.
I gave them some of everything [,] I had without receiving anything in return.
they have gained more confidence and are losing their fear, they are so unsuspicious and so generous
They even offer it themselves, and show so much love that
they would give their hearts.

Born in southern Mexico and raised in Chicago, Isaías Rogel is a first-year PhD student at UC San Diego studying Ethnic Studies.