Temporary Country

Taking our time in Mexico, 
we were crazy about Janis that summer,
singing her songs to mescal rhythms,
sea’s beat against the cliffsides.
We watched shrimpers deliver 
their catch at end of day,
made love as the church bells sang.
We heard the verdict 
of spreading, sunrise clouds,
cheered the children as 
they dove for tourist coins.
Weeks delivered a sheen of 
coastline sand, peaking waves.

Light’s angle towards winter, 
a flock of crows, shining, 
feeding in the rain, sent us home.
We took a train to 
the border bridge, a declining river,
stood viewing the mud flats,
asking ourselves hard questions
about the permanent land.

R.T. CASTLEBERRY

R.T. Castleberry, a Pushcart Prize nominee, has work in Caveat Lector, San Pedro River Review, Glassworks Magazine, Silk Road and Gyroscope Review. Internationally, he’s had poetry published in Canada, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, New Zealand, Portugal, the Philippines, India and Antarctica.