consider this chrome post-industrial mobile disco
consider this chrome post-industrial mobile disco
beast of burden shoulder to armpit where we jostle
beast of burden shoulder to armpit where we jostle
knee to knee inching riddled road down the pothole-
knee to knee inching riddled road down the pothole-
with a slogan sweet lover basta driver
with a slogan sweet lover basta driver
everything a blur you are a cubist in the rippling heat
everything a blur you are a cubist in the rippling heat
pastiche on wheels for traffic police a moving target
pastiche on wheels for traffic police a moving target
and what does it mean the way of dinosaurs that you are going
and what does it mean the way of dinosaurs that you are going
your body made cast-off parts from surplus engines
your body made cast-off parts from surplus engines
soon to become but that must be junkyard relics
but that must be
the pedestrian you’ve had a hell ate of kings
the pedestrian you’ve had a hell ate of kings
of a good run the daily route and still you ply
of a good run the daily route and still you ply
wheezing o welded tin can in full throttle
wheezing o welded tin can in full throttle
kinetic vessel your days are numbered diesel fantasia
kinetic vessel your days are numbered diesel fantasia
****
Rodrigo Dela Peña, Jr. is the author of Aria and Trumpet Flourish (Math Paper Press, Singapore), as well as the chapbooks Requiem and Hymnal (Vagabond Press, Australia). His poems have been published in Likhaan, Kritika Kultura, Tomas, and other journals and anthologies. He has received prizes from the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, Kokoy Guevara Poetry Competition, British Council, among others. Born and raised in the Philippines, he has been based in Singapore since 2011.