I heard the stories Throughout my childhood Whenever I asked about the pensive portrait Hanging on grandmother’s wall A cacophony of conflicting legends and lies Influenced by the character of the griot   Aunt Iccie was a missionary Or a spinster teacher Who died in…

When I was five and our parents divorced I never cared to know why and You might think that was really bad When I was six and our mother left us at our father’s door in his rooming house because we were cramping her style…

Celebrating Juneteenth, I resurrected the djembe and marched in the light of God   Keeping time with syncopated rhythms, we danced and we sang with hope and heavy hearts how we knew freedom was coming “Oh, yes,” we sang, “I know!”   With little rhyme…

chortles churn from the dark; a villain takes the stage: amusing, absurd   leave them rolling in the aisles; struck to their shaking bones — humorously   *In Greek mythology, Thalia is the muse of comedy behind the smiling face

We knew it was love and passion that found us then marching in stride side by side signs high over our heads singing out our yearning for peace   The fire still burns, tinged with lust, trust, and fidelity marching with one sign between us…

Food trucks from Maxwell Street Wafting temptation through the air Succulent polish sausages and Hot dogs overloaded with Onions, tomatoes, pickles, and Relish so green the grass grew envious   Sitting on the stoop Washing down the steaming delights — fries on the side –…

Because I didn’t like the prompts and four is an unlucky number That fall night in Shin-matsudo Walking home along the ripening onion fields turning a corner to find the harvest moon blocking the path ahead.   So large it could have landed like a…

Look at that bird! Is it a goose? Is it a swan? Legs and neck are too long. Swans walk gracefully; that bird looks drunk.   Maybe it’s a flamingo! Aren’t they pink? Not all of them.   It’s walking away! Did somebody get a…

  It was not wise of you to drown me in your whys to keep asking me to share painful memories   Why did you want to know Why I had no use for educated fools? Why I didn’t want you to be one? Why…

Are you telling me a story? Giving me imagined characters whose uncertain fates matter enough to keep me caring   Are they me wrestling with every struggle choosing wrong choices before our turning point?   Are you showing me a story Giving me heroes and…