Dafa Rafet

by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

Yaay, Baay, and Goonay, Someplace in the Gambia, c. 1756

When the mother and child
walk from the village
to gather fruit, faces
recite quotidian love.
                         Do you have peace
                        (Waw, waw, diam rek)
Then, they are alone, and the toddler
points out the fat-bottomed
baobab, the mango
with its frustrating reach.
Mother pierces a low-hanging
jewel, and her small
shadow trills gratitude.
                         Yaay, you are so nice
                          (Waw, waw)
                          Yaay, I love you so
                          (Waw, waw)
No demonstration, but a hand
touching the tender head
that was braided over cries.
Later that night,
the father must listen, too.
                           Baay, I ate a mango
                          (Waw, waw)
                          Baay, I saw a bug
                          (Waw, waw)
The child sits closer
to his mat,
whispers ambiguous lights:
                           I know all the things—
and he does not answer,
but smiles at his wife:
their daughter is a marvel
and they must pray for humility.

from The Age of Phillis, Wesleyan, ©2020

Most Poetry will post a poem on the theme of joy and celebration, selected by our members, each day through the month of September.

Yes, we know there are only 31 days in August, but we just had to continue posting poems through the end of this week!

Breathe. As in. (shadow)

by Rosamund S. King

Breathe

. As in what if

the shadow is gold

en? Breathe. As in

hale assuming

exhale. Imagine

that.      As in first

person singular. Homonym

:. As in subject. As

in centeroftheworld as in

mundane. The opposite of spectacle

spectacular. This is just us

breathing. Imagine

normalized respite

gold in shadows

. You have the

right to breathe and remain

. Imagine

that

.

Most Poetry will post a poem by a LGBTQ+ poet, selected by our members, each day through the month of August.

Yes, we know there are only 31 days in August, but we just had to continue posting poems through the end of this week!

Daedalus, After Icarus

by Saeed Jones

Boys begin to gather around the man like seagulls.

He ignores them entirely, but they follow him

from one end of the beach to the other.

Their footprints burn holes in the sand.

It’s quite a sight, a strange parade:

a man with a pair of wings strapped to his arms

followed by a flock of rowdy boys.

Some squawk and flap their bony limbs.

Others try to leap now and then, stumbling

as the sand tugs at their feet. One boy pretends to fly

in a circle around the man, cawing in his face.

We don’t know his name or why he walks

along our beach, talking to the wind.

To say nothing of those wings. A woman yells

to her son, Ask him if he’ll make me a pair.

Maybe I’ll finally leave your father.

He answers our cackles with a sudden stop,

turns, and runs toward the water.

The children jump into the waves after him.

Over the sound of their thrashes and giggles,

we hear a boy say, We don’t want wings.

We want to be fish now.

Most Poetry will post a poem by a LGBTQ+ poet, selected by our members, each day through the month of August.

Yes, we know there are only 31 days in August, but we just had to continue posting poems through the end of this week!

Night-Music

by Muriel Rukeyser

When those who can never again forgive themselves
Finish their dinners, rear up from the chair,
Turning to movies are caught in demonstrations
Sweeping the avenues — Meet them there.

Watching how their faces change like traffic-light —
Bold blood gone green as horses pound the street,
As the plates of sweated muscle push
Them squarely back into retreat.

Notice their tremulous late overthrow,
Caught irresponsible; as he first rank presses
Up at the brown animal breast of law,
Defying government by horses.

And after the quick night-flurry, the few jailed,
The march stampeded, the meeting stopped, go down
Night-streets to unique rooms where horror ends,
Strike-songs are sung, and the old songs remain.

Vaguely Ilonka draws her violin
Along to Bach, greatest of trees, whereunder
Earth is again familiar, grandmother,
And very god-music branches overhead.

Changeable spirit! Build a newer music
Rich enough to feed starvation on.
Course down the night, past scenes of horror, among
Children awake, lands ruined, begging men.

Rebel against torment —
Boats gone, night-battles, the sleepers up and shaking,
Fear in the streets,
Cruelty on awaking.

Make music out of night with change the night.

Most Poetry will post a poem by a LGBTQ+ poet, selected by our members, each day through the month of August.

Yes, we know there are only 31 days in August, but we just had to continue posting poems through the end of this week!

American Hero

by Essex Hemphill

I have nothing to lose tonight.
All my men surround me, panting,
as I spin the ball above our heads
on my middle finger.
It’s a shimmering club light
and I’m dancing, slick in my sweat.
Squinting, I aim at the hole
fifty feet away. I let the tension go.
Shoot for the net. Choke it.
I never hear the ball
slap the backboard. I slam it
through the net. The crowd goes wild
for our win. I scored
thirty-two points this game
and they love me for it.
Everyone hollering
is a friend tonight.
But there are towns,
certain neighborhoods
where I’d be hard pressed
to hear them cheer
if I move on the block.

Most Poetry will post a poem by a LGBTQ+ poet, selected by our members, each day through the month of August.