Poetry is in the people. Praise the people!
I’m writing
a love poem
even with
an American
boot to
my throat.
I lick the croony
sole and picture
you in a fresh white
wife pleaser.
You got
two fingers
dripping money
down my mouth.
Our razor
can do
so much.
Copyright © 2025 by C. Russell Price. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on June 24, 2025, by the Academy of American Poets.
I’m writing
a love poem
even with
an American
boot to
my throat.
I lick the croony
sole and picture
you in a fresh white
wife pleaser.
At the end
of the story,
we exchanged
hair. Two tiny
Ziploc bags,
little plastic
windows.
I sheared off
the tip
of my braid,
candlewick
I burned my life, that I might find
A passion wholly of the mind,
Thought divorced from eye and bone,
Ecstasy come to breath alone.
I broke my life, to seek relief
From the flawed light of love and grief.
Night was done. We rose and after
Washing, dressing,—kissed with laughter,—
After all, the sweet night knows.
Lilac breakfast cups were clinking
While we sat like brothers drinking
Tea,—and kept our dominoes.
The 2010 winner of the National Book Award in poetry, Terrance Hayes is the author of seven poetry collections. He currently serves on the Board of Chancellors of the Academy of American Poets.
Danez Smith is the author of Don’t Call Us Dead (Graywolf Press, 2017) and [insert] boy (YesYes Books, 2014).
Jackie Wang is the author of the poetry collection The Sunflower Cast a Spell to Save Us from the Void (Nightboat, 2021), which was longlisted for the National Book Award.
Janice Mirikitani was born on February 4, 1941, in Stockton, California.
Chen Chen is the author of When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities (BOA Editions, 2017).
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