(t)here (the exile's new song)
after bermeo, espada, y garcía lorca
by Barbara Jane Reyes

here in a city once covered with oak trees
here in this city called oaktown
there is a there there, we live here
here in this city called oaktown
a century of brick and marble hotels
here in this city called oaktown
where cracked cherubs hang from gold leafed ceilings
here in this city called oaktown
where oak tree roots crack open the pavement
here in this city called oaktown
brothas sit on they stoops and crack open they 40s
here in this city called oaktown
peace out, little sistah, be safe tonight
here in this city called oaktown
i stumble home with a whiskey smile
here in this city called oaktown
djembe funkadelic 24-7
here in this city called oaktown
my window rattles and shakes to the beat
here in this city called oaktown
the banana tree outside my window sways
here in this city called oaktown
capoeira on sidewalks, d’wayne’s bumpin café
here in this city called oaktown
sweet smellin brothas rappin in french
here in this city called oaktown
corner store chapchae and kim bap saran wrapped
here in this city called oaktown
wonder bread, wild turkey, olde english 800
here in this city called oaktown
oh, jackson street, oh new condo rising!
here in this city called oaktown
oh, double paned windows overlooking the lake!
here in this city called oaktown
oh tribune building, here where she jumped —
here in this city called oaktown
oh lord, she never told me her name.
here in this city called oaktown
oh, despair and cheap bourbon of the corner store!
oh, oaktown, bleeding pavement and crack!
here in our city called oaktown.

Other poems by Barbara Jane Reyes in ActionYes #2:
Selvedge
she laments unnumbered losses
Eve Speaks
Eve Speaks 2