Week 30: Kevin Latimer
let’s let you dance
yo mama’s dead — my nigga she don’t come around no more you should get this
catch that fade eat this tough love. How are you? you haven’t returned
my calls the group chat stay on mute & the poor dog pookie — oh God
pookie dressed in winters fur coat. God spit you out let me fill up that water bowl
— oh god pookie I said oh, God, pookie my boots are filled
with lead // the concrete is lava &i’mmelting i’m melting don’t pull me out.
You see, what had happened was — i just / you know it’s ok. i ain’t sad no more
pull that frown into happiness into some outside into a spring / a more sky
hue the color of clouds on leave summer hot on their backs whip them
niggas into shape i say to myself mama, you should feel this too
in that graveyard that God-chosen resting place the velvet casket sticks to bone
choosing you as dress now, i ain’t gonna lie somedays just some
days I want to rip you out & let you dance with me
the way you always said we were going to. please, just one last time.
Kevin Latimer is a poet and playwright from Cleveland, Ohio. He is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of BARNHOUSE. His poems are forthcoming from Hobart, Passages North, & others. He really likes Nickelback. find him at @LikelyKevin