THE SERIES

People gather up people, and after
Marvel at the act, the act soon fading
But remembered (itself an act–fading)
Nevertheless, it’s also true that words
Gather up words, and strain to stay gathered
That straining becoming monumental
Until the base buckles, collapsing all
Nevertheless, the broken artifacts
The remainders of efforts big and small
Spark curiosity and desire
Prompting a plan to gather up people
Marveling at the plan itself, for a bit
Before pounding in the beams for a base
Then lowering the slab that’s now the stage

—

from Issue 18 of Nat Brut

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Rodrigo Toscano is a poet living in New Orleans. He is the author of twelve books of poetry. His latest three books are WHITMAN. CANNONBALL. PUEBLA (Omnidawn, 2025, a National Poetry Series finalist), The Cut Point (Counterpath, 2023), The Charm & The Dread (Fence, 2022). His other books include, In Range, Explosion Rocks Springfield, Deck of Deeds, Collapsible Poetics Theater, To Leveling Swerve, Platform, Partisans, and The Disparities. His poetry has appeared in over 20 anthologies, including, Best American Poetry (2023, 2004), and Best American Experimental Poetry (BAX) His Collapsible Poetics Theater was a National Poetry Series selection. His poetry has appeared in the Boston Review, Poetry Magazine, The Bennington Review, The Kenyon Review, The Harvard Advocate, Georgia Review, Yale Review, Conduit, and Fence. rodrigotoscano.com