About P.J. Podesta

Estrellita still ain’t got no band but her new (virtual) album drops the same month as Leonard Cohen’s who’s one of her heroes. She composed about half the lyrics here in a hot rush last New Year’s eve/day, which calls to mind a story Cohen once told about Bob Dylan: Dylan said to me, “I … Read more

Assimilation People who speak Spanish all have outside jobs, my daughter announces as the Mow ‘n Blow crew descend from a truck to ravish our lawn. I read her a book about dark children dancing, playing drums with wrinkled elders, eating fried plantains. Bored, she grabs Dr. Seuss. I’m not Latin, Mommy, I’m light pink … Read more

aspiring to think like Jesus bought a pack of cigarettes instead speaking of the spaces between us there’s a grade school map in my head look sharp Chicago eyes front New Orleans I’ve got a map of the whole country but I have no idea what it means I failed out of geography physics and … Read more

Bliss I’m in heaven I’m halfway drifted away only a fool would understand how I feel today only an idiot could feel this joy only a moron or a girl they tried to turn into a boy only an imbecile could’ve taken me this far only a shattered adolescent could be wishing on a stupid … Read more

She arrives with a lot of birds on her back. They remain even as she comes into the house and stands by the piano. No, birds indoors this way do not bode well and they regret this. The zebra is afraid of the small room the parents make ready for her – it’s too dark … Read more

my love’s way beyond unrequited I need a new word now to describe the yearning of yearning for someone I’ve never even found me and Petrarch sitting in a tree he’s gonna be married long before me Estrellita’s is a world-class wit but her stuff is more than clever. It’s deep too. And it’s getting … Read more

I want to celebrate Christmas, my daughter announces. I want blow-up things on the lawn. She’s wonderstruck by our neighbor’s inflatable Mickey Mouse elves. Behind them, sunglass-wearing Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph sway, arms around each other’s shoulders. Rudolph must have a leak; his snout’s starting to pucker. Daddy’s family’s Christian, so why can’t we? Across … Read more