Grillz
The first time somebody sweeps me off my feet
Jasmine, my granny calls me NeNe
I’m 15
And the ends of my hair are bumped under
Right above my collarbone
And sometimes
Catch on the clasp
Of the pearl necklace I am wearing
For the school dance
and my
Oh my
He’s beautiful
All brown skin boy
White teeth and round cheeks
Full lips, two toned
Toothy grin, gaps and all
And that’s my baby
The word comes to me
I don’t know why but it comes
From down in my gut
And up through my throat and
I hear my momma for a second
Snapping green beans
Collards already been shucked
Bangles clacking on the bones in her wrist
She’s singing
Sounding sweet like syrup as the music streams
from the Radio in the window seal
Her voice is pouring past
Her red painted lips and oozing
Over her chin
Spilling, surgery and rich
Amber and gold
Into a pool at her feet
Momma is molasses
And honey and her singing
Sweeps everything up in