Minoans leaping over bulls
in loincloths.

 

Truckers in Circle K’s
showering.

 

Dolphins and Octopi
in green foam.

 

Roadhouse raucous night
Hattiesburg.

 

Single sail ship
toting tankards of wine.

 

Hanger selling firecrackers
exit 22.

 

A giant whorl of red
for a sun.

 

20 by 30 Stars & Stripes
at daybreak.

 

Undulating blue lines
for a sky.

 

F-15 sorties
return to Keesler.

 

Underground frescoed baths
galloping flautists.

 

Mothers in cut-off jeans
pack a twelve.

 

Pointy breasted damsels
snake in each hand.

 

Back seat rifle rack
F-450 truck.

 

Bronze double axe
on green marble.

 

30 ft. Unknown Soldier
at city center.

 

Black Minotaur lurching
on two legs.

 

 

---

 

RODRIGO TOSCANO is a poet and dialogist based in New Orleans. He is the author of eleven books of poetry. His latest two books are The Cut (Counterpath, 2023), The Charm & The Dread (Fence, 2022). Forthcoming is WHITMAN. CANNONBALL. PUEBLA. (Omnidawn, 2025). His Collapsible Poetics Theater was a National Poetry Series selection. His poetry has appeared in over 20 anthologies, including Best American Poetry (2004, 2023) and Best American Experimental Poetry (BAX). Toscano received a New York State Fellowship in Poetry. He was an honorable mention for the International Latino Book Awards. He won the Edwin Markham 2019 prize for poetry. rodrigotoscano.com X: @Toscano200

 

 

The art that appears alongside this piece is by GRANT RAUN.