VISIBILITY Magazine Issue 02. (April 2017) | Page 31

American flags o o z i n g t h r o u g h t h e i r t e e t h I grew up on bag j u i c e a n d g u i n e p I can still feel m a n g o d r i p p i n g d o w n m y f a c e On hot summer da y s How do I reconci l e o n e h o m e w i t h a n o t h e r ? I stand in the middle of a sweaty frat party And I can’t help but wonder if My country is Jealous of my lips against another woman’s Full of envy green and lush Like Poison Ivy growing From blood stained Sugarcane fields Home of my ancestors I’d like to believe they mourn My country’s mistreatment of queer They’re the only ones who know What it’s like people But sweet rebellion Tastes like rum burning the back Of my throat before I kiss my girlfriend Burning the fields of downpression Jah, Rastafari My country, Sweet like ah sugah & hot like a fyah Both at home And abroad My teeth bite into the sweet flesh cane and My gums bleed I can’t help but see the irony of sugar 24