An Amazing New Poet to Read

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

I recently learned that September is Hispanic Heritage Month.

Simultaneously, I also happened to stumble upon a new poet who blew me away and happens to be Mexican American. I therefore decided to introduce him to you:

Gil Arzola

Mr. Arzola is the Rattle Chapbook Prize Winner, which is how his poetry found my eyes. I subscribed to Rattle Magazine for a year and my first issue came with a copy of Mr. Arzola’s latest collection, The Death of a Migrant Worker (which is only $6, if you want to read his amazing work and support a fellow writer).

I cannot get this man’s words and imagery out of my mind. His poetry is both beautiful and haunting. I mean, just read some of these lines:

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“My life is passing. The snow melts.

In another day it will become water and disappear

into the ground.”

--Gil Arzola, from his poem, “Childhood Homes”

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“My father died in the bathtub, his head

banging against the stainless-steel handles.

The blood from his head--useless now--poured out,

slow as thick soup.”

--Gil Arzola, from his poem, “The Death of a Migrant Worker” (click the link to read the full poem, published as a free sample by Rattle)

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“Begin at the part where

he looked at you the first time.

My father. He smiled.

I was born there.”

--Gil Arzola, from his poem, “My Mother’s Love Story”

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I cannot recommend this man’s poetry enough. If you want to read his full poems, which I really think you should, you can purchase a copy of The Death of a Migrant Worker here: