Plump and fluorescent skin
And eyes with bottomless wells of life
Scan this world without regret

Supple hearts that swell
With charcoal-filtered love
Strike strong against virgin chests

Ernest ears that hear only
Poetry and peace, perk to
The direction of their mother’s whisper

Soft and stretching bones
Filled with sparkling marrow
Hold you proud against these winds of change

And now this vicious cycle…
The endless slow-drain of
Night into light, light to night

With no spawn to live through
Nor lend my name to. And Why?
Because I’ve chosen to

Oh youth that I know so well
Laugh and burn with the passion of life!
For your path will merge mine soon enough

Esteban Luis Soto was born and raised in the West Texas town of El Paso before leaving at the age of 23 to pursue music in Austin. It was during this time that he began to develop a passion for writing poetry and short stories. The calling for writing became so great that he enrolled in the College of Santa Fe to pursue a career in creative writing.
He became fascinated with the likes of Borges, Allende and Marquez and the genre known as “Magic Realism.”

He developed his writing skills (especially in poetry) and after a year in Santa Fe, decided to return to his hometown to be closer to his beloved family. After a period of time, however, the calling to Austin and music became so great, that he recently relocated back to the Hill Country.

Esteban Luis Soto currently resides in Leander and continues to write poetry and short stories.

He was previously a winner in the annual Franklin-Christoph poetry contest as well as being a featured poet in Magnapoets “Love Anthology”.