Live Encounters Poetry & Writing Volume Four November-December 2024
Gently saying goodbye, poem by María Castro Domínguez.
Gently saying goodbye
The art of staying alive is difficult to do,
on a national holiday my man died.
When children at school practise anthems
and woman and men dress in traditional costumes.
I remember the day, more night than day,
crowds were singing to a timple *
how teenagers licked pink candy from their hair and cheeks,
whilst my temples were turning white and it hurt to talk.
Even the doctor forgot his case, anxious to get home to his girls
and the ambulance aids, high on Monster, forgot their post-
covid gear. How hard it is to live on a day like this,
and even harder, to gently forgive.
*(a small guitar)
© María Castro Domínguez
María Castro Domínguez is the author of A Face in The Crowd, her Erbacce–press winning collection, and Ten Truths from Wonderland (Hedgehog Poetry Press), a collaboration with Matt Duggan. Winner last year of the first prize in The Plaza Poetry Prize and third prize in Brittle Star´s Poetry Competition 2018. She was highly commended in the Borderlines Poetry Competition and this year’s The Red Shed Poetry Comp. Shortlisted in Renard Press’ 2024 poetry competition ‘Building Bridges’. Her poems have appeared in many anthologies and journals such as Popshot, Live Encounters, PANK, Empty Mirror, The Lincoln Review, The Friday Poem, Orbis, Chattahoochee Review, The Cortland Review and Backlash Press.