i
behind her smile
is a rage
hand her my axe
as we ride
adorn her neck
with the red and white bead
whisper the wisdom
once more in her ear
she is my cedar
planted in kansas
the white egg shell
smudged and reborn
in every heart that knew her
the consort
of Black Valhalla
my warrior child
forever
ii
and somewhere
beneath that rona tragedy
is mother and daughter
no killer found
who stalks her memory
without knowing
Shango
kabiesile!
lifted seat
lifts axe to you
foul and cruel
lava burn your eyes
carved grooves in face
your judgment
breathless gasps
child smiles tattooed inside your eyelids
the city
topeka
that fails all you touch
that takes all you nurtured
and renders it dust
a balloon in the sky
that flies raven
forevermore
til it falls like acid
like justice
on heads unwashed
uncleaned of wicked
not-snitched
we’ll find you
warrior sister slayer
Shango have mercy!
iii
restored mercedes
to her rightful throne
fixed her crown
and makeup
repainted her smile
she no longer dies
she is again who she was
laughing in hallways
dodging homework
the jump up to goat’d beats
Black girl magic says
she’ll live forever
if her sister mirrors are made whole
iv
the nothingness of tomorrow
of the Black girl in constant suspension
the SRO who cuffs her soul
too powerful to be detained
so
we lost
for all our fighting
and the guns always win
our cash crop
must flow i guess
for american greatness
on ventilators
and a balloon is all we have to remember
forever
v
but if she has to go
she should know
that smile
was all i wanted
that now we know
just how hard the heart can rip
just how easily life can slip
just what we saw
hiding behind that smile
and i’ll see you
in the lightning and thunder
riding with Shango forever
Mercedes
