Pancho Villa By James Dean Poem by Jonathan Andrew Perez

Point of no return: (n.)the theory of no more second chances, loss of a motorific mythic savior

Ocotillo plants bloom once a year
post-apocalyptic
thunder dome biome. Save water for one night,
when it wasn't too dry.

Pancho Villa, too, saved
these dying words:
A single Federale turned his head
but couldn't hear it anyway—

Pancho jettied and hurtled,
between depression and slope
Testy machismo, brigadier blade,
front fender, toecutter on a motorcycle.

his lionheart for life even as he grew old.
Despite the lump of sand in his throat.

larynx spoke truth, a vulture flapped,
the skin bandit,
left: buckle, pistol, muffler, brake, rubber fork
a costume party.

The rest slipped away
for child rhymes
To ride a steed full engine into a Hollywood sunset

breach this world
And the roaring fire tip
of cowboys and eternal Indians.

 

MISSING