On The Make Again
Otra Vez En La Movida

Jim Sagel

This volume collects Sagel’s poetic works, originally published in four chapbooks and a series of journals, to the year 1990. The fifth part of the book, “Harold M. Es Rata,” is printed together for the first time and includes prime examples of Sagel’s linguistic brilliance, wit and satire.  The title poem of this section has been anthologized frequently.

 “A keen observer of the people of Espanola and northern New Mexico and recorder of their language . . . Sagel captures the stubbornness and fragility of a people firmly rooted to a place and an old but changing culture.”—Theresa Salazar Troy, Books of the Southwest 

“Harold M. es rata”
                                    reads the huge spray-painted message
marqueed on the east wall of T.G.&Y.
in the Big Rock Shopping Center
where lowriders slither together
panzas rascando
                                                                        while barechested hermaphrodites
shake glamorous locks
blink tragic lids and curse the universe
outside their furry cockpits
                                                                                                            and every abuelita
from Tierra Azul down to Corucotown understands
that “Harold M. es rata”
                                    (pobrecito)
sacudiendo la cabeza
as they elbow through the clutch of comadres
to grab their best buy on toilet paper and buy a get-well
card for the vecina’s husband
                                                                                                            who lies wheezing
terminal breath
in C-Ward at the Presbyterian Hospital
his stomach heaving and abruptly collapsing
                                    and cheerleaders giggle
in the shaded portal
hounding Safeway carryouts to buy
a dozen home-baked brownies so they can finance
                                    their next trip to the cheering clinic in Roswell
                                                                                 and they flash
brace-glinted sonrisas
and wonder what the “M” stands for
                                    and does anybody even know a Harold anyway?
pero Harold M. no es rata
es gordo nomás
big as a carnival and rigorously silent
Harold M. is only fat
                                                                            which
you will remember
is just about the worst thing you can be

in high school

             —“Harold M. Es Rata”

6 x 9 inches • 93 pages • ISBN 0-931122-54-6 • $8.95