BLUE

Carlos A. Pittella

@pittella.bsky.social

latinx poet haunted by borders & bureaucracies ⦁ he.him ⦁ skying from Tiohtià:ke ⦁ linktr.ee/carlosapittella ALT pfp: buzzcut, polkadot, broken smile ALT banner: blueskyed Shiva meditating "Hum"

287 followers309 following171 posts

CApittella.bsky.socialAug 22, 2023 3:06pm

DANTE'S BUREAU 3/4 I wanted a hybrid text to convey bordercrossing tension—between boxed prose & free verse. Here's a page from "Infernal Customs," in TCR 3.50.

The distinction between “person” and “individual” explains the tension between two systems that are superimposed and frequently at odds in bureaucracy (...). The conflict between law and exception illuminates the bordercrossings of Dante and Vergil. The personal relationships bend the individualistic system, but only as a favour for the happy few. These happy few are “the important people, who transcend the rules that constrain and govern the ordi- nary person.”

Gathering fines for every election I missed,
my electoral title was canceled.
Hence the need for a certificate
of electoral release.
I still must xfer my title to the Exterior Zone,
but since this year is an election year,
I must reach out to my original Electoral Zone
which is extinct.
I must find out my new Electoral Zone
in order to request
a special circumstantiated
Certificate of Electoral Release
which still does not un-cancel my old title
but explains (as a footnote to a footnote)
nothing.

CApittella.bsky.socialAug 22, 2023 3:15pm

DANTE'S BUREAU 4/4 Deanna Fong, the fabulous guest ed. of TCR 3.50, suggested that images accompany the text of "Infernal Customs"— so I unearthed some bordercrossing photos, such as this one, literally between Europe & Asia.

Carlos A. Pittella

@pittella.bsky.social

287 followers309 following171 posts