The Jitney is committed to publishing more original Fiction and Poetry from Miami-based writers. This original prose poetry is by Jose Norono. “A Journey Down” is lyrical and fun, playing with history, linguistics and identity in a free-form, original way. It is a wonderful piece of writing from Norono, a recent graduate of FIU’s MFA program in Creative Writing.
We hope you enjoy this slice of literary pie.
To get the most of the poem, we recommend reading it out loud. Or, if you ask nicely, who knows, maybe we can arrange Jose to read it to you over the phone. Enjoy!
“A Journey Down” by Jose Norono
Crest·fal·len adjective:
From crest + fallen, from the appearance of a horse with its crest (head) on its chest after defeat in a battle.
There are times when I find myself staring into one of our local abysses, be it the sea or the sky, and I am entranced by the turmoil of the waves or the stillness of the clouds. I see a rainbow in the distance arching downward into the horizon’s pot of gold; and just as I am about to lunge towards a friend to tell them about it, I stop. Because the rainbow is only an illusion, and even if they could see it, it would not be mine to share.
As·sas·sin noun:
From Medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic ḥashshāshīn, member of Nizari branch of Ismaili Muslims, literally hashish-eater. Originally a derogatory nickname with reference to the supposedly erratic behavior of the members of the sect, as if they were intoxicated by hashish.
When I am walking towards my car and I hear someone call my name from the blackness behind me, I feel as if a large chain connected to my stomach has just been whipped and yanked. I feel a compulsion to turn, and yet I always resist it. My feet trudge forward, sinking into the swamp as my spirit wears and tears until my head gives up before my body, turns, and finds itself staring into darkness with eyes devoid of light.
Sand·wich noun:
Mid-18th century: named after the fourth Earl of Sandwich (1718–92), an English nobleman said to have eaten food in this form so as not to leave the gaming table.
I have always found it quite very funny how, the more things change, the more they just stay the fucking same.
Broad·cast verb
1767, meaning dispersed upon the ground by hand, in reference to seed, from broad (adj.) + past participle of cast (v.). The figurative sense of widely spread is recorded by 1785. As an adverb from 1832.
I once had a dream where I jumped off a large cliffside, disconnected from any actual cliff. When I started falling, I was immediately buffeted by powerful winds. Gale after gale pounding my flesh, I stayed airborne by the sheer strength of the four winds scattering me across the sky. Air would hit me straight on the jaw, then on the stomach, the on my left leg to send me spinning; then on the back to straighten me out. The fall lasted for a good three minutes until my body finally became too tough and tender for the breeze to juggle. I began to fall. I was reborn under punches, and right before I hit the ground, an epiphany struck my heart:
I’m so thin.
Fair·y noun:
From Middle English faierie, fairie, from Old French faerie, from fae + –erie, from Vulgar Latin *Fāta (“goddess of fate”), from Latin fātum (“fate”).
I cannot enter a house that has an iron horseshoe hanging above the door. I must answer when my true name is spoken. I must not bother a man who wears his clothes inside-out. I must not associate myself with hard tack bread. Some bells will draw me out, and some bells will draw me in. I cannot disturb any man who has found a four-leaf-clover, for they are lucky today, and thus they are safe.
Do not tell me your name. Do not make a promise that you cannot keep. Do not lie to me, as I can tell. Do not dance in my presence. Do not draw cold iron in my presence. Do not say sorry in my presence. Do not be indebt yourself to me. Do not mention a newborn. Do not say thank you. Do not accept this coffee I just brewed for you, although it is nice and hot, although the smell is intoxicating, although I have made it with love.
Whis·key noun:
1715, from Gaelic uisge beatha “whisky,” literally “water of life,” from Old Irish uisce “water” (from PIE *ud-skio-, suffixed form of root *wed– (1) “water; wet”) + bethu “life”
When I was a kid, I loved swimming. I would swim and swim for hours in our local pool, under the harsh, dry Venezuelan sun, spinning in circles under the chlorine water. I would thrash until my muscles were sore, wading my way through the water.
I always wanted to stretch my arms out like a star under that water, and take a deep breath, to find out that I had gained the ability to breathe submerged. I wanted to be able to swim forever, into the depths of lakes. I wanted to be able to ride waves with just my feet, to crash on land with such impact rain falls for an hour. I wanted to be struck by lighting and to find out I could fly.
Ber·serk adjective:
From Old Norse berserkr (“Norse warrior who fights in a frenzy”), probably from bjǫrn (“bear”) + serkr (“coat; shirt”), referring to the bearskins warriors wore.
When I was growing up, I was not compelled to be a scientist, or a journalist, or the head of some large company. I did not want to engineer or build, or do other people’s math. I was possessed by a passion for unimportant things.
Video games and their stories became the fire in my blood. Suddenly I wanted to draw, to write, to show people how my two action figures were striking each other. I wanted them to feel the passion that I felt, to spread the fire. Because I did not want to be the only one burning.
O·ver·cast adjective:
From Middle English overcasten, equivalent to over– + cast. Compare Swedish överkast.
O·ver·kast noun:
a bedspread, a bedcover.
Whenever you find yourself staring at your own personal abyss. Do not be afraid to share what lurks within your darkness. Because I know you are not really staring at the sea, or the sky, or the stars. You are staring beyond them into a mirror, a mirror that shows only you. In a blank void, surrounded by your burning fires of various colors. I want you to feel possessed by these flames. So that when you mouth opens, only heat comes out. And as the heat goes on, I need you to spread it. So that everyone can see that which moves you and tears out your soul.
You are your own personal rainbow.
