Love and Hate: Five Pieces
By Armando Ortiz
1.
I love you like party time,
as the sun goes down, and
bed sheets cover us to hide
what we imbibe.
2.
I hate you like the emotional isolation
that is felt when beside me you cry,
shedding those tears
through the night.
3.
I love you like party time
that’s when its Friday at midnight,
and though tired I fight the urge to sleep
keeping on the mild cool light.
4.
I love you like dark chocolate chili
that is sold in the old markets
of towns found in between green valleys
where on deserted imaginary lands
abuelitas wearing aprons
carry those delicious goblets
on dry baskets, and covered
in golden maize husks.
5.
I hate you like clammy handshakes
that leave that water residue on the skin
as a sign that time has come to say goodbye
like eyes that splash you with darkness
with abysmal irises of black unknowns.
