How’d Your Parents Die Again?

Again? As though I told you how the first time.

Everyone always tries to theft, bring them back out the grave.

Let them rest; my parents stay dead. Their dirge, my every

-morning’s minaret. All the world’s earth is my momma’s grave.

The water droplet on the park’s sunflower petal: her name.

I kiss every stone & it becomes my father’s tomb: his grave.

They said I was too young for the funerals, so I played

dress up at home. I’ve never been to my daddy’s grave.

My ache: two jet fuels ruining the sun’s set play. The bee’s

discarded wing, glazed into honey. Everywhere I look—graves.

Would I trust a God that promised me my family?

Does it matter how, if they’re gone, twenty-five years, a grave

what’s left of their remains? Does it matter how? There’s no

place to see them again. Home is the first grave.