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Nina Rubinstein Alonso’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, Ploughshares, Ibbetson Street, Writing in a Woman’s Voice, Muddy River Poetry Review, Wilderness House Literary Review, Mom Egg, etc. Her book This Body was published by David Godine Press, her chapbook Riot Wake is upcoming from Cervena Barva Press, and a story collection is in the works.

Lisbon to Vigo

Nina Rubinstein Alonso

Vineyards and farms
slow animals in the fields whitewashed
villages reflecting shine of the sea

what century is this life
eleven and a half hours on the train
all day watching at the window

as if we’ll never get there
as if cities have been erased
as if this ride goes on forever

full darkness when we arrive
I’ve never been to Spain before
Fernando’s first time in fifteen years

we’re awkward strangers by the lamp
at the station door gathering ourselves
to break the trance of the train when

a man walks over and says
there’s a chance for rooms nearby
good price for a clean hotel

exhausted we say we’ll take a look
trying to seem wary and cool
appear less numb than we are

less like lambs following stupidly
as this shepherd has a face of clay
we both notice his milk-glazed eye.

— Nina Rubinstein Alonso

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