
Three Poems
EVERY CONVERSATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE
SEVERITY INTENSITY STRENGTH MERCY RELAXEDNESS BEAUTY
WHY ARE PEOPLE SO FUCKING STUPID?
(PHOTO OF MY LEFT HAND STIFFLY BLOCKING THE SUN)
(PHOTO OF MARVIN TWISTING UP FROM THE GRASS)
(NEON YELLOW HOODIE HANGING FROM THAT CHAIR WHOSE WOVEN LEATHER SEAT IS DRY AS WOOD)
I WANT TO START A SCHOOL FOR BLACK GIRLS
(PHOTO OF THE CRINKLED SOLE OF ONE FOOT CRADLED INTO THE LEFT FLESH OF AN OUTSTRETCHED THIGH)
(ARCHIVAL PHOTOS OF VARIOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY)
THE SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION
(SILHOUETTE OF A HALF-BARE TREE AT BLUE HOUR)
THE RIGHT WRONG STEP
AS IN THE CORRECT WRONG, OR THE WRONG THAT FACILITATES THE NECESSARY RIGHT
SO, THEN, OF COURSE—NOT IN FACT WRONG AT ALL
MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF DESIRE RIGHT
I HAVE MISTAKEN BEING ADORED FOR BEING CONSUMED
I HAVE MISTAKEN BEING CONSUMED FOR BEING ADORED
AND SO HAVE MY VAMPIRES
AND THAT I AM NO WHETSTONE
B-B-B-BROKENHEARTEDNESS
MY B-B-B-BENEFACTORS
SOURCES OF REFUGE
I NEED TO SING
I NEED TO PRAY WITH MY SONG
I NEED TO PRAY WITH MY SONG
I NEED TO PRAY WITH MY BODY
I NEED TO PRAY WITH MY BODY
(PHOTO IN WHICH MY OUTSTRETCHED ARM
CULMINATES IN A HAND PRESENTING A CELL PHONE
THE FRONT SCREEN OF WHICH IS MY SMILE AND NOSE)
WHAT IS THE AREA BEFORE READINESS
(VIDEO OF A RAINBOW STRIPED KITE FLYING)
TWO PILLOWS AND A BLANKET
THE RECOVERING
THE RECOVERING
THE RECOVERING
I NEED TO RECOVER WHAT I’VE GIVEN
STATUS SLAVE
NOW I KNOW WHY I’VE RESENTED BEING TOLD I’M GENEROUS
THE TURN
VENUSIFICATION
COLOUR ORACLE
VERITABLE CRUSH
WHO YOU ARE AS EVIDENCED BY HOW YOU MOVE
HOW YOU ARE AS EVIDENCED BY WHAT IS MOVEABLE OF YOU
SOUL
IF INSTEAD OF ACQUIRING THE OBJECT TO WHICH SHE FEELS ENTITLED, SHE INSTEAD DISSOLVES THE FORCES THAT ARTICULATE THEMSELVES AS ENTITLEMENT
RECENT CHANGES
ROOT INCHES
ALLIGATOR AND OWL
UNGREASED SCALP
STARED AT ON THE SUBWAY
IS THERE SOMETHING I DON’T KNOW BECAUSE I’M… UNINFORMED?
BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF
JOY
PURPOSE
(PHOTO OF OILY DAHL AND YOGURT IN A SHALLOW SPECKLED BOWL)
FLOWERING PLANTS
AN INDOOR GARDEN OF FLOWERING PLANTS
NONDUAL MINDFULNESS
THAT I AM FINITE (NO)
GROWLING
A VERY NICE DANCE CLASS
FROM 35 TO (GASP)
THE THOUGHTS I THINK PRONE
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE TO LIVE DESPITE
BY THE MIRROR OF YOUR ENVY
ROLE MODEL?
THOUGHT AS (MERELY) MENTAL SENSATION
AIR SIGNS
COLOURS OF IRON AND RUST
A BLAZE IN THE VALLEYS
SHE FELT RICH AND HAPPY
UP AT THE NAKED BRANCHES (WE TREES)
A NEAR-EMPTY PARK AND I
TIRZAH IN THE PARK AND TEXTING
THE WIND ROARED AS DIRECTION
A SHEPHERD ESSENTIALLY
IRMA VEP
MAGGIE CHEUNG
HOT WATER STANDING
CONDITIONAL DRYNESS
ADEQUATE SALT
MORNING MILDLY HORNY
THE MATTER OF PERSONHOOD
SYLVIA WYNTER RETURN
AN APARTMENT NEAR A GROVE
THE INFLUENCE OF AROUSAL
THE NAME FOR THAT WHICH KEEPS YOUR POWER SECRET FROM ITSELF
SHAME
SAFETY
THE FAT OF MY AUNTY’S ARMS
OH HER PERFECT RED SKIN
LOVING MAMA ANNE FOREVER
40-YEAR-OLD BLACK WOMEN
FELLOWSHIP
ON LUCK
OCEAN OF PRIOR CAUSES
SLOWERNESSLY
OPPORTUNITIES TO EAT MAYONNAISE
PERFECT COMMITMENT
WHY I ASKED WHAT AN ARROW’S OPPOSITE IS
IS GROW IMPROVE?
A SOFT GREY COTTON ONE PLUS ONE I CAN BLINK BEHIND
LAVISH ABSENCE’S ARRIVAL
BABY’S FIRST BLENDER
BABY’S FIRST BLENDER’S INAUGURAL SMOOTHIE
“APE’S TITS INCREDIBLE”
STAGHORN FERN
STUDFINDER
SPELLING CEILING
IF THERE WAS A SUN I WOULD MAKE MYSELF BLACK BY IT
THE PRAYER OF DAWN
IN CYCLES AND CIRCLES
VIOLET PRAYER
AISHA SASHA JOHN ACT II
PRODDING 40
AFRO-COLOMBIAN PERSON
I ACCEPT MY LIFE ENTIRELY