the intimacy of skin “…how come, how comeI anticipate nothing as intimate as history would I have had a different lifefailing this embrace with broken things…”From ‘thirsty’ by Dionne Brand nothing is more intimate than skin the bag of itmighty body buttress claspingthe broken & betrayedcupping loss in a wrinkled elbowstanding at attention on the… Continue reading Poem 47 – the intimacy of skin
Tag: Black History Month
Poem 46 – Mary
Mary When she opens her eyesthe first thing she seesis Hope – how it leans at the foot of her bedholding up the cheek of dawn – directing lighton Mary’s heart She is tired Her bodya trunk heavy with theweight of being the changetoday there is much to doas there was yesterday asthere will be tomorrow Passion… Continue reading Poem 46 – Mary
Poem 44 – Lines
Lines “Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.” first lineinvitation “Now, women forget all those things they don’t want to remember, and remember everything they don’t want to forget.” fifth lineunder the influence “The sun was gone, but he had left his footprints in the sky.” twelfth linefeverish surprise “But now, the… Continue reading Poem 44 – Lines
Poem 40 – Jazz with Zora
Jazz with ZoraFor Zora Neale Hurston Zora takes me to The New World Cabaret in Harlem.We treat it like the meal that it is, murmur excitedlyour plans to gorge ourselves on the orchestra’s specials. We are plunged in the mighty supping of temptoe-tapping & trumpet. It fuses our light togetherin a fury of indulgence. I… Continue reading Poem 40 – Jazz with Zora
VANESSA SHIELDS 