Cycles by S. Salazar | Wednesday Double Feature | One Poem Only

One Poem Only · Mar 18, 2026 · 2m

Wednesdays on One Poem Only are a double feature: one poem here on the podcast, and one more by the same poet shared on Instagram.

Cycles

S. Salazar

The space in which my family occupies is a revolving door—

each rotation moves me further from their timelines.

Yet turning to push the door in reverse

won’t take me back to a time with them:

to picnics beneath the Central Park oaks

or a game of tag among Puerto Rican palms.

I existed decades after Abuelo exited the door.

I stepped between the panes of glass

just as Abuela stepped out.

Abuelo took everything with him except his family.

Abuela…