New Jersey’s own Manny Beltran has contributed his written art [The Coming Dawn, Bygone (A Contemporary Sonnet), A Gentle Good-bye] and his visual art (An tAmhranai/The Singer; Contributor Series 2: Candy and Spirits, La Llorona, The Weeping Woman) to these pages. Manny’s new poem explores broken hearts, fractured souls, and the surprising gift of being alone/lonely.

On this night I am alone
The same as I was the night before
No lover to call my own
No friends to offer me a shoulder
And on such nights I drink
I smoke and I smoke alone
And I ponder on what I am not
And tread upon what I could have
But even though the night is cold
The night is mine alone
And for such a gift I am grateful
At peace with my broken heart
For there is no love to be had
And only memories to compete with
As I struggle not to give up
I know that I am still not one
That the sun and moon alone
Shall never meet for me