My favorite color is brown.

I am neither a fast car nor a firecracker

Perhaps these things were once mine also

And I forgot them

Left them like a toddler leave his blanket on the stairs


I have a habit

Of repeating things over and over

Some times I can’t deal with moving on

I keep bluesing “I, I, I,” over and over

Like the spindle on a record that skips

Yes

Yes

And inside

I know all these poems are written

And yes, yes and inside

I’m sure all my work has been done.


But today

I am swiftly dancing with

The swish swishing in the dryer


At the helm of the kitchen

Frying okra near golden

In a pan for four people

Never learning to cook for one


Yet I believe that we should all cry a lot

Or often

And not be brave all this time

And tell people we love

Every day

And we should pray to Jehovah

And be happy over little things

Treat being like a precious gift

And be good

Just be good to one another


And scream

Let it rip down the back alley of your throat

Get it out

Make it fast and fancy

Let it go.


Shayla Lawson 2004


Copyright © 2006 Shayla Lawson.

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