You Should Write More _____ Stuff, They Say

from And the Walls Came Tumbling

Photo by Passion Ward

I sat down

to write a poem about love, but

it’s hard to find pretty words

when you stay looking

over your shoulder

and around corners

and out your windows

and inside your house

and everywhere, cause anywhere

could be where my black gets me dead.

So, I stand up

to write about love, but

I do it slowly

and I write in my head

so my hands are visible

no pen

cuz blue bullets

beat black ink every time.

The pen’s might is only in

Signatures on amendments

And bills

And warrants

And death certificates.

So, I lie down

To write about love,

Facedown.

Arms and legs spread.

I try to write about love

But I wonder if I

should draft my own

eulogy instead.