fly
for Detroit
u Fly
so fly back
fly black to industrial complexes
feeding on soul food
lick fingers till they drip poems
till they raise souls unfinished
rebuke anyone who says
the soul has left Motown
cuz on wide-eyed, nostalgic strips
concrete jungles crack
to make room for tomorrow’s
prayers for the breathing
fuck bourgie mofos scurred
of your earth-tones
your skreet swaggar
your possibility
grip it
grip it like your hand take hold a lover
excess softening in ya palm
rested like an overdue nap
echoed and shadowing
like the bass of southern crunk speakers
lickin’ eardrums
pause long enough to sense self
that leg of your family
that left Lower Arkansas or “Sweetport”
Ark-La-Tex’d elsewhere
took freedom trains up yonder
where freedom’s a FORD promise
where your peoples pave the path
for futurity
there is J0Y in Detroit
the simple sophistication of n****s
with hopes tattooed on their faces
smiles, flirtations, or mean mugs
the chameleon canvass carried
like something delicate
faces changing with whatever you give back
these are a people who
hold the moisture of soul in their locs
and say come indulge
Berry-sweet hopes so juicy
lips collect dew at the thought of it
like liquor lips that nourish
the parts of your body
that need to “feel” felt
help you celebrate being some body
where no one knows you
but everyone seems to know enough
to welcome you
then inhale a heavy breath respite
then ex-hell as strong as your dreams of love
till the 7th breath resuscitates
gives shapes to tomorrows
fills tears with courage
fills lungs with optimism
like how it feels to fill a hole again
reconstruct self
they will erect a monument
people will remember you over and again
will etch your name into stone
claim you like you were born there
remembering that you
became yourself (again) there
an Easter Sunday resurrection
fly back
fly black
you fly
