Wisdom Calls/the points of knives/grandpapa and holy spirit dance like no one’s watching
by KAILANDE CASSAMAJOR
in Fall 2020
Zalika Ibaorimi, Good Grief - VI, 2020
Wisdom Calls
The weight of the world
Is both
Butterfly kisses, and
Bloodshot eyes
a turbulence,
A clashing of waves and
Fighting children
That will soon see
Images of self in the skies
And run back to the elders
yearning to be wise.
the points of knives
my limbs stretched-
inquired begged to
no one in particular
how
Souls could be held
captive in
cages -
forced to
sleep on
hard floors constant
ear splitting red pain
of light
the angel of light comes
locks the hinges
whispers the light
is not that bad-
a sinister amusement yanking
tongues
Amerikkka’s soil stirs
buckles down in
hilarity, we been
known white
hands
Always
Fail
to hide bleeding
trees, attempting with
Kemet mocked structures
smother our children’s screams
the people watch
red-eyed
occupied
scratching an ungodly itch
with the points of knives
watching the screens
they chew
and chew
and chew
grandpapa and holy spirit dance like no one’s watching
those sunglasses
hold his eyes
make his vision
like amber heaven.
told his grandchildren
the Holy Spirit came to comfort
after Guantanamo bars
tried
swallowing up
his youth
music so loud
the children don’t
hear much
they feel
his large feet
beatin the floor
calloused fingers
tapping his
cuban hat
shirt soaked
eyes wide open
tears
falling.
Kailande is a graduating senior studying Biology and Psychology at Howard University. She is the eldest of five and daughter to two amazing Haitian parents. She sings in prayer, in poetry, and within the calm within her soul. Find her writing, imagining, and journeying through life. Learn more about her at AfroetryWorks.com.