Jazz la

measured by sorrow

is a shawty—I mean “body”

dark rose kissed with death,

        though I have my own.

there’s an existence

of my father in my heart,

an allegiance of sadness. I can

pen this out.

our story started in

innocent days. I didn’t know

I wasn’t worthy of a man.

he was a skyscraper I

couldn’t reach, tho I was sure

my little hand

could wrap around two fingers..

my world, my best friend.

flawless in a bond,

I can only give

what was given to me. a hunter,

an identity, a soul.

I never imagined a day apart.

as life folds

I find myself

in a stranger’s home, with a woman

that’d meant much to me, I turn periods

into commas—softening,

we never bonded.

I never had the words

chuckling

now that I’m a poet,

but I looked to you.

she was all I could cry out &

I never judged you.

at some point

the two of you become twined together

because I already know neglect.

shut

down, operate, go numb.

it’s already

in my  DNA

           a

          s