Sauce on the Side
By Randy James
“I come blessed like / cocolon, Caesars fresh out the barber y platos de arroz / con pollo from corner bodegas. I am part flamingo, / part Black Howler.”
From guest judge Kim Addonizio: ‘There is dazzling energy and propulsion in this poem of origins and identity. I loved both its seriousness and its humor, as well as its wry self-awareness. Make way for this speaker who is “part flamingo,/part Black Howler.”’
Randy James is a poet, student, teacher, and organizer. His interests include improvisational art, equity, and researching popular cultures. He has studied at UCLA, and his work has been published in Myriad, Westwind, FEM Newsmagazine, and Red Cedar Review. He lives in Oakland, California, although he is originally from Los Angeles.
By Randy James
“I come blessed like / cocolon, Caesars fresh out the barber y platos de arroz / con pollo from corner bodegas. I am part flamingo, / part Black Howler.”