by Alicia Viguer-Espert

The light of the mind bright as it is, it is not
what I seek must be perennial pine tree,
bright green, sitting with like companions 
in the temple of leaves, needles pungent
and sharp like swords ready to cut through 
distractions, seductive thoughts, the honey 
of a flickering phone calling you to engage
with a world of plenty unnecessary news.

It’s late, I tell my mind to be quiet,
I tell my mind to be still, so I can hear
the voice of the Beloved whispering.
What I hear is the body complaining,
lumbar vertebrae, scapula, cervical sprain,    
every part clamors for complete attention.   
A voice brings to mind that day when at 6
I was scolded for something I didn’t do,

also, what I should have responded
to that teacher in college who couldn’t
give me a deserved A. I catch myself 
replying, try to stop a tsunami of thoughts 
but, I fail, again, and as I straighten 
my back, ask for help from the Divine 
wondering how will I be able to listen 
with so much inner chatter.

Alicia Viguer-Espert, born and raised in the Mediterranean city of Valencia, Spain, lives in Los Angeles. She learned English as an adult, began writing in English in 2017, and that same year won The San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival Book Contest. She has been a featured poet at numerous venues within the greater LA. Her work has been published in Colorado Boulevard, Lummox Anthologies, Altadena Poetry Review, ZZyZx Intersections, Panoplyzine, Rhyvers, River Paw Press, Agape Review, Soul-Lit, Dryland, Amethyst Review, Odyseey.pm, Solum Journal, and Spectrum Publications, among others. Her chapbooks To Hold a Hummingbird,  Out of the Blue Womb of the Sea and 4 in 1, focus on nature, identity, language, home, and soul. In addition to national and international publications, she is included in “Top 39 L.A. Poets of 2017,” one of “Ten Poets to Watch on 2018,” by Spectrum. Alicia is a three times Pushcart nominee.