AfroPoets Famous Writers

Heirloom


Sundown, the day nearly eaten away,


the Boxcar Willies peep. Their
inside-eyes push black and plump


against walls of pumpkin skin. I step
into dying backyard light. Both hands


steal into the swollen summer air,
a blind reach into a blaze of acid,


ghost bloom of nacre & breast.
One Atlantan Cherokee Purple,


two piddling Radiator Charlies
are Lena-Horne lured into the fingers


of my right hand. But I really do love you,
enters my ear like a nest of yellow jackets,


well wedged beneath a two-by-four.


But I really didn't think I would (ever leave),
stings before the ladder hits the ground.


I swat the familiar buzz away.
My good arm arcs and aims.


My elbow cranks a high, hard cradle
and draws a fire. The end of the day's


sweaty air stirs fast in a bowl, the coming
shadows, the very diamond match I need.


One by one, each Blind Willie
takes his turn Pollocking the back


fence, heart pine explodes gold-leafed in
red and brown-eyed ochre. There is practice


for everything in this life. This is how
you throw something perfectly good away.

Written by Nikky Finney

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