say i’m on the / same
trajectory as grandaddy /
say i need to / pick myself
neat. & tidy / i’m a st. francis
preparatory girl, you know / i braid my
hair into pigtails / i starch my
tie / clean, tie it into a sidewalk pigeon
and melt / with the gutters, because
we’re the same / soul, you know.
that’s me / walking / a little
nigga girl with / one foot
tripping the next. / i’m a red
rooster in a field / that’s what
granddaddy says / he’s a
veteran / he says. i’m
late now, i know, for grief / but
i’m still here.