My New Black Magazine - NYU Black Renaissance Noire BRN-FALL-206 ISSUE RELEASE | Page 116

What I Remember

(I. The First Phone Conversation)
Our words were ripe, wild
raspberries chosen
carefully on a green afternoon.
I wanted you
to change the soundtrack
of my heart. Unbirth Billie’s
moan from my throat, help
me speak honey
again.
Your words
were palms pressed
in prayer, a hand
open & offered to me.
(II. The First Date: You Bought a Mango)
You carried the sun
gently, sweet Haitian
rain in your palm.
dawn’s sugary flesh
against the midnight
of your hand.
I remember the mirror
of uprooted
fruit.

(III. Nothing Left but the Fall)
Days running our
fingers over each others’
words.
plates of yasa and Joloff rice
afternoons
reciting Shange
& Perdomo,
coaxing the light back.
breathing into me
red candles flickering
roses, morning glories.
Did I ever thank you?
Not for the gifts of food
or books
but for the gift of you?
(IV. Fin)
How to say good-bye to water,
to ocean, to salt, to us, something pure
breaking,
waves of you
still hummed in my skin.

115

Our hands were quiet
then,
we memorized each other
like scripture.

BLACK RENAISSANCE NOIRE

I remember
the tears you spoke,
orange candles in your basement,
how I listened to your footsteps.