at Descanso Gardens
watching everyone
on their phones taking
selfie videos to post
on the ‘gram trying to
capture their state
of serenity, so others
can be envious of missing—
the witnessing of how these
little creatures float within
insta calmness, by just
sitting there, teaching
us above their cutest croaks
how we should put our phones
away, just be—like my wife
as she coos, kneeling
by the edge, she notices
the kids watch, wanting
to emulate her calmness,
instead of snapping photos
she winks, pointing at
the pond, wanting the kids
listen to the musical splashes,
my wife slips her iPhone back
in her pocket, her only focus
blinking smiles, seeing the kids
keeping a respectful distance
eyes wide grinning at each
frog, wading in this little
pond, among the crickets,
rippling in the water, my wife
meditating while showing us,
in Descanso Gardens, how to
camouflage in quiet relaxation.
—
Adrian Ernesto Cepeda is the author of Flashes & Verses… Becoming Attractions from Unsolicited Press, Between the Spine from Picture Show Press, Speaking con su Sombra with Alegría Publishing, La Belle Ajar & We Are the Ones Possessed from CLASH Books and his 6th poetry collection La Lengua Inside Me with FlowerSong Press won Honorable Mention in The Juan Felipe Herrera Best Book Award – One Author – Bilingual in The 2024 International Latino Book Awards. Adrian lives with his wife in Los Angeles with their adorably spoiled cat Woody Gold.
