My Mama and ‘Em Stayed in New Orleans
Hands made of bronze steel
braided at the knuckles with soot and rust
heels coated with a poultice of clay
night drenched skin
lets the moon dig sweat glistening streams into your cheeks
cheek bones lone vessels anchored at their peak
cul de sac of fat and murk at the stomach
Have I tossed amongst the brown chrysanths
that sprout at the opening of your arms
A city of white bricked cathedrals blotched with old gum
in your eyes
vanishes in a blink
This poem is about:
Me
My family
My community