I am from Reinhold Niebuhr and Cornel West on every bookshelf in the house From Holy Communion and Black History Quiz Bowl. I am from "I brought you into this world and I'll take you out" And "Your grandaddy was a freedom fighter." I am from kudzu Whose stubbornness and beauty flourish Even When it's... Continue Reading →
The first spell I learned Was when my friend pointed at a digital clock and said, "Eleven eleven. Make a wish." 11:11 One one one one In every half second My heart prays eleven times eleven times That you were still alive I don't wish that you would come back Because every story that told... Continue Reading →
Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York Words that play On the cassette player of my childhood memories. Chilly Autumn evenings waiting In the mini-van For my dad to pick up the pizza. Me, my brother, And my mom, before cell phones detached us all from each... Continue Reading →
My grandfather likes hot chocolate His skin is as dark as night He believes in big breakfasts With half a grapefruit for good measure And taking your hat off at the dinner table And checking in on your nieces and nephews He is a good Baptist man A church deacon An Alpha man A college... Continue Reading →
How can you go home When you don’t know where it is? The map I see in textbooks is unfamiliar yet comforting Like meeting a cousin for the first time Who looks just like you I study it And can only dream and pretend That I know the route back I study eyes and noses... Continue Reading →
*Throwing a temper tantrum* I don’t want any more angels I don’t want any more memorials We want to live *Crying and whimpering* I’m really starting to get scared I could be the next one What if I forget to signal when I’m driving? What if my nose twitches From an itch And someone thinks... Continue Reading →
Sometimes I think about a woman’s belly The kind that is soft and just a little warm That cups into your hand And puckers under your lips Bellies are underrated Attention is often given To more explicit places But the belly is tender A windowsill made of cotton to rest your head With sides to... Continue Reading →
A brown-skinned celebrity of African descent Made a post on Instagram today saying she was happy. Understandably so, Her song is doing really well; Number 4 on TikTok. A fan of unknown ethnic descent commented on the post Saying they were sad That Black men are being murdered in this country, And asked how she... Continue Reading →
I remember sitting on your bed in your dorm room- It was a single, just one of many signs that you were often lucky in circumstance- Listening to you talk about the guy you had a crush on, who was white, But you thought it could work, even though your parents were conservative and African.... Continue Reading →
To make an old fashioned cocktail,Preferably with rye, You take a small glass tumbler, Put a cube of sugar on the bottom, Pour bitters over the sugar, Then muddle. Put in an ice cube, Then pour the whiskey on top. Garnish with a rind of citrus. This is an old fashioned love poem. Old fashioned... Continue Reading →
Sankofa Virgo 