Published in Overland Issue 203 Winter 2011 Main Posts Monday 12 July at 2 pm Juan Garrido-Salgado I can’t think about your anniversary. At 2 pm, I don’t want to be here: A coffee shop next to the Entry of Woolworths Shopping Centre at Hilton. I try to write a poem for you, Viejo Neruda But prices & offers tangle up my hands; I’m trapped by products. I drink my long black & see Shelf Prices Reduced-In Green 1–10 long & narrow corridors. In the street the wind battles with clouds And rain wounds the pavement. It is cold, my bike is an old poem Leaning against a line of shopping trolleys Like an old figure’s head in the middle of nowhere Como un Viejo mascarón de proa en el medio de ningún lugar. Your voice came from this verse: Venid a ver la sangre por las calles. I can still recite this poem by heart. G’day mate, someone said to me; he carries a green bag. I drink my long black & I can see Special Price: Kellogs Cereal. Any 2 for $9.00 I can see Special Price: Huggies Nappies. Any 2 for $32.00 Noise is traffic junk in the car park, shopping trolleys. Customers want to leave soon and go home. Your voice is still in my head & your verses in my mouth. I can’t shut up; your verses come out louder, Like a strong wind shaking the remain leaves Of the gum tree in the corner of the car park I can’t shut up; your verses come out louder: Venid a ver la sangre por las calles. Venid a ver La sangre por las calles … Juan Garrido-Salgado was born in Chile and was a political prisoner under the Pinochet regime, but now lives in Adelaide. He has published three books of poetry and his poems have been published in Chile, Columbia, Spain, El Salvador, Brazil, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. © Juan Garrido-Salgado Overland 203-winter 2011, p. 72 Like this piece? Subscribe! Juan Garrido-Salgado More by Juan Garrido-Salgado Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays First published in Overland Issue 228 11 November 202211 November 2022 Main Posts On the last day of Subscriberthon, our amazing online editor gives you one last (very good) reason to subscribe Editorial team What's in store for the last day of Subscriberthon? First published in Overland Issue 228 10 November 202210 November 2022 Main Posts On the second-last day of Subscriberthon, our favourite editor-duo give you reason #1002 to subscribe to Overland Editorial team What's in store for the second-last day of Subscriberthon?