Ode to George Elliott Clarke’s Mouth When he took the stage in the atelierit was an assaultthe air heaved toward himrendering me breathlessmy spin reconfigured in attention a vertebrae salutethe space became a sanctuarya long mantis finger pushed up his glassesand.then.he.quaked Head leaned backforehead glistening with sweatcheeks puffed proud like mountainslips, oh lips! peeling back in revelationspit,… Continue reading Poem 32 – Ode to George Elliott Clarke’s Mouth
Category: On Writing
Poem 31 – Strange Fruit
Strange Fruit cue hatecue trumpet lickcue Shipp and Smithcue piano poundcue photographcue trembling mouthcue protest poemcue guttural voice cue muse moving in music dripping blood-stained past raging in the now of what will always mattercue reaching for ghosts in the windcue digging in dirt naked hands joined to make a sacred shovelcue poplarcue magnoliacue crowcue… Continue reading Poem 31 – Strange Fruit
Poem 30 – Important Questions I
Important Questions I Can you get me a towel?Where are you going? When will you be back?Can you make dinner?Is there chocolate cake?What is your biggest fear?What are the test results?Do you have any allergies?Is this your first time?What is your name?Do you have a condom?Where did you get your mask?Have you been there before?What time… Continue reading Poem 30 – Important Questions I
VANESSA SHIELDS 