Wonderment & Soft Armament

Jasmine Reid

swell of the city
fountain gush & ever-slap
across stone, soothed stone
buildings flare up — inflections
of the infectious we

wild in the mouth with the buzz of bees
a singular man
a grave, motherless color
a shadow, a clink setting over the street
interrogative prick
at my origin of place & sex
yes, i look like a girl because i am (i am, i am)

&, later, water, green
& me in the alive
alighting leaf
from the starry hair of trees
sweet nursery
cloud i pour under

spine to the bark of my elder
grass & leaves lean & flicker in wind
like i do, & the wood, it is solid
so solid





Last updated July 22, 2021