Burned hand, or 2-step by Alex Z. Salinas

2 hours 

passed piping

daybreak java

lava spilling 

over around 

into my 

cutting hand 

5 digits

stinging screaming 

O tingling

we were 

singing down 

under spotless 

monday blue 

no 1 

in sight 

to give 

31 july 

damns on 

the oldest 

date of 

my life 

& still 

we’re inquiring 

quite alone:

hey baby

we doing

this right? 

books stacked

on my 

lap: magic

8s soothsaying:

reply hazy

try again—

we always do. 

Alex Z. Salinas is the author of two poetry collections and a book of stories, City Lights From the Upside Down, which was included in the National Book Critics Circle's Critical Notes. His poetry collections Hispanic Sonnets and Trash Poems are forthcoming in 2023. He holds an M.A. in English Literature and Language from St. Mary's University, and lives in San Antonio, Texas.