Kayden Vargas | 3 Poems

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Re·spon·sive

/rəˈspänsiv/

1. reacting quickly and positively.
“a flexible service that is responsive to changing social and economic patterns”
Similar: quick to react; reactive; receptive; open to suggestions; amenable
2. Answering
(section of liturgy) using responsive practices.
The universe calls, and I respond.
I hear and answer.
Wouldn’t it be magical
If more people answered
What calls to them?

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Homecoming

The prophet is loved
Anywhere but here
I always find
A hometown haunting
In this empty house
The prophet returns
Always to blood
Shake the dust
Off of your feet
And grab
Your walking shoes
Or they’ll crucify
You too.

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Call Me Son of God

Help me count the ways
All of the ways that
I am not
Their woman
Remind me proper —
Who I am today
And who I could be
Tomorrow
The self-made man
Beneath this skin
Beneath this chest
Beyond thin hands
This voice, this breath
Cut me open
Bleed me dry —
Remind me.
“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’”
T(He)y

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Kayden Vargas (They/He) is a poet, parent, and psychologist living on Yakama land. Their first love was, and always will be, the Columbia river. He works as psychology faculty by day and is a poet by moonlight. They have recent publications in ANMLY magazine, the Sun Review, and others.
@vccdrkmv on Twitter; @kaydenxwrites_ on IG