lady in blue

i usedta live in the world

then i moved to HARLEM

& my universe is now six blocks

when i walked in the pacific

i imagined waters ancient from accra/ tunis

cleansin me/ feedin me

now my ankles are coated in grey filth

from the puddle neath the hydrant

my oceans were life

what waters i have here sit stagnant

circlin ol men’s bodies

shit & broken lil whiskey bottles

left to make me bleed

i usedta live in the world

now i live in harlem & my universe is six blocks

a tunnel with a train

i can ride anywhere

remaining a stranger

From for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf