Moving
just enough to keep writing
writing
just enough to keep moving
some magic boy named David
fixed the page
so now
I might write you love notes
more frequent than the drip drip drip
of mute hellos
hi world
here we go again
weeks before winter ends
and I am writing again
I should praise something
say hallelujah
or Amen
or at least right on
welcome back to the rat tat tat
the ska dip da doo
pitter patter of small fingers through time
Pajamas
sleep
snow
new shoes
I cannot wait till spring
St Lucia
Amsterdam
Awards
Michigan Women's Festival
Martha's Vineyard
Jamaica Again
this time as prodigal
daughter
as writer of things not shameful
thank you Mervyn
it means the world to a stray girl
far from what feels like home
nothing feels like home anymore
and this is an old song
Selvon
McKay
what a potluck of advances
opportunities
lives caught in the balance of speeches
and actions
and intent
Harry Belafonte is a genius
and brave
that shit is hard
George Bush is a Terrorist
he said
President Chaves we support you
he says
and I am inspired
to risk more than the little I hold so dear
write this book
and risk something that really means something
to a circle
larger than how far I can see
I wish I could see further than my own need
love is a long swim without water
without wings
we are required to rise above
sea-level
and breathe
if you are alive
write a poem
sing a ditty of trust to an old lover
just because you dared
in gratitude for the freedom of this page
in reminder that there are some
who will never read these indulgent confessions
for health-care
and food for the poor
for education
for equality
for the familiar of this song
for the necessity to keep our voices on a loop
say it over
and over
and over
again
health care
food
education
easy logic
I think
but we hang ourselves
on what we are doing with our black bodies in prisons
or dykes down the hall
health care
food
education
one voice
on loop
healtcarefoodeducation
let's get it together before 2008
Staceyann