Shawn Anto is from Delano, California. He was originally from Kerala, India. His writing has been featured or is forthcoming in Reed Magazine, El Portal, Sierra Nevada Review, and elsewhere.
Briones Reservoir Loop
Shawn Anto
We follow light
round and round
this body of water.
we repeat:
where there is transgression
there is transformation.
we jump one pasture to another
onto another another onto enclave.
come down a gravel road unexpected—
a vacant white table, surrounded by stacked-up empty chairs.
who has left space where do I leave space?
round and round only objects no more us.
this digital umbrella—we are encased in—we forget the table, chairs
forget the talks, the gathering, when we used to reflect, commune
community communicate.
we say:
that’s why we offset time
must right the wrongs before we disappear.
these roots grow strong when no one is looking
all through the dormant months
we continue to follow light find space fill it
round and round, we go find quiet, hold our breaths under
this body of water.