Absorption

On the porch I sit in the deepening black of the sun,

kettle waiting for the bloom,

whistling like Summertime

and Nina Simone, full and in color,

of color, colored.

From the seed to sown,

in the wind and blown,

I am revolving in time.

I am redbone as Mississippi mud,

where my people are buried deep in history,

when crosses burned as bright orange

as my power color, complimenting

my brown body, broken, like bread.

America feasts on me.

I wear the Blues, like Voodoo Women

Koko Taylor sings to me and suddenly, I am

slick black guitars sliding on stage

and brassy as high hats, golden with sass.

My skin sings hues like old Negro spirituals

that reflect me, bouncing light,

while flags of red, white and blue

absorb and skew,

as Blackness takes all.