Constant Witness

For César Vallejo.

foamy sea waves hitting coast

In the presence of endings, your imagination lifted, and death was never far. Where others ran away, you went to meet it. You waded into waters of long suffering, returning with the precious and unseen.

With death never far from where you rested, you rested only briefly. You knew waters deep and rough enough to drown the best of us, how they silenced, and the violence of a blow to stop the mouth.

Still, you spoke of longing and living in a fallen world. Beholding, for you, was a series of flashes. Each pierced you. You kept looking.

***

Early this morning, I spent time with the work of César Vallejo, whose life I mean to honor here.

Author: Stacey C. Johnson

I keep watch and listen, mostly in dark places.

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