Bushwick-born poet, Emanuel Xavier, curates a monthly feature exclusively for Bushwick Daily, featuring poems by local Bushwick residents and/or natives. Poems can be about anything (not exclusive to Bushwick) but contributors must currently live within the Bushwick area or have been born and/or raised in the neighborhood. Check out the full series.
This month’s poem comes from Emanuel Xavier himself.
U R
Eres the sweet belly offering of my cat
I am unafraid to rub even with his claws out
Eres the Mexican blanket and tube socks that keep me warm
As I listen to the winter winds howling outside my corner Bushwick apartment
Eres the candle I light when the electricity goes out
Offering hope in the darkness throughout the city night
Eres the Listerine strip that keeps me confident
With minty kisses, fresh breath and perhaps even more
(if I end up on my knees)
Eres the cookies & cream ice cream at the end of a long day
That I like to spoon around to slightly melt before eating in front of the t.v.
Eres the sheet fort built as a child to enjoy my own little world
Keeping me safe on the living room sofa bed
from arguing parents in the bedroom
Eres the chocolates found inside a plastic pumpkin pail on Halloween
Eres the reassuring touch of abuela’s wrinkled soft hand
Eres the bobblehead Jesus with outstretched hands that holds my writer’s pen
Eres my favorite feather pillow that I like to squoosh and fall asleep on to dream
Reprinted with permission by the author. From the poetry collection, Radiance (Rebel Satori Press, 2016)
To be considered, submit 2-3 poems (10 pages max) to [email protected] with the subject “Bushwick Bohemia Beat Poetry Submission.”
Poems should be attached as Word documents, 10 point, Times New Roman font, double spaced and set up as they should appear on the site if selected. Poems can be about anything, but contributors must currently live within the Bushwick area or have been born and/or raised in the neighborhood.
Please include a brief 3-5 sentence bio and your personal relation to Bushwick with your current mailing address for verification. If submitting previously published work, please include appropriate publication credits.
Cover photo courtesy of Travis American.