Stand (Excerpt)
why so afraid to stand up?
someone will tell you
sit down?
but here is the truth
someone will always tell you
sit down
Poetry Should Ride the Bus (Excerpt)
poetry should hopscotch in a polka dot dress
wheel cartwheels
n hold your hand
when you walk past the yellow crack house
poetry should wear bright red lipstick
n practice kisses in the mirror
for all the fine young men with fades
shootin craps around the corner
poetry should dress in fine plum linen suits
n not be so educated that it don't stop in
every now n then to sit on the porch
and talk about the comins and goins of the world
poetry should ride the bus
in a fat woman's Safeway bag
between the greens n chicken wings
to be served with tuesday's dinner
Prayers like shoes (Excerpt)
I wear prayers like shoes
pull em on quiet each morning
take me through the uncertain day
don’t know
what might knock me off course
sit up in bed
pull on the right
then the left
before shower before teeth
my mama’s gift
to walk me through this life
These hips (Excerpt)
these hips ripe plums
don’t believe
come
taste
these midnight moons
made a sugar’s juice
know how to curve a line
make a knife shiver
in anticipation
these hips ripe plums
don’t believe
run yr hand long this
The Air Above Our Tongues (Excerpt)
We do not speak. afraid
of what might happen to us
the air above our tongues
prays for us to speak. afraid
- Ruth Forman
