The world baffles with sounds,

the worst of which is a human voice.

You would think that with a judgment like that

I would hate crowds, but better a pub’s intermingled dozens

than the sound of one fool speaking his mind.

The dozens drum and buzz and hum.

Against the dozens I could ring a wet glass

and sing C above high C,

could settle a bet with bold harmonics,

could stun down the bark of a barracks of dogs.

But against one idiot all another idiot can do is shout.

Imagine a life in which shouting was the precondition

for every action, if you had to shout to step, shout to sit,

shout loudly to effect any outcome.

What when you did speak would you say?

What wouldn’t sound old to you, 

about what could you not say I’ve heard this before?

What a relief it would be to scream yourself hoarse,

to be forced into silence,

the one note you know you can always hold.

(for Ntozake Shange)

I used to be a roller coaster girl
7 times in a row
No vertigo in these skinny legs
My lipstick bubblegum pink 
                          As my panther 10 speed.

never kissed

Nappy pigtails, no-brand gym shoes 
White lined yellow short-shorts

Scratched up legs pedaling past borders of 
humus and baba ganoush 
Masjids and liquor stores 
City chicken, pepperoni bread 
and superman ice cream 
                                    Cones.

Yellow black blending with bits of Arabic
Islam and Catholicism. 

My daddy was Jesus 
My mother was quiet
Jayne Kennedy was worshipped 
by my brother Mark

I don’t remember having my own bed before 12. 
Me and my sister Lisa                                shared. 

Sometimes all three Moore girls slept in the Queen.

You grow up so close 
never close enough.

I used to be a roller coaster girl 
Wild child full of flowers and ideas
Useless crushes on        polish boys 
in a school full of         white girls. 

Future black swan singing 
Zeppelin, U2 and Rick Springfield

Hoping to be Jessie’s Girl 

I could outrun my brothers and 
Everybody else to that 

reoccurring line

I used to be a roller coaster girl
Till you told me I was moving too fast
Said my rush made your head spin 
My laughter hurt your ears

A scream of happiness 
A whisper of freedom 
Pouring out my armpits 
Sweating up my neck 

You were always the scared one
I kept my eyes open for the entire trip
Right before the drop I would brace myself
And let that force push my head back into 

That hard iron seat

My arms nearly fell off a few times
Still, I kept running back to the line  
When I was done
Same way I kept running back to you

I used to be a roller coaster girl
I wasn’t scared of mountains or falling  
Hell, I looked forward to flying and dropping
Off this earth and coming back to life 

every once in a while

I found some peace in being out of control 
allowing my blood to race
through my veins for 180 seconds 

I earned my sometime nicotine pull 
I buy my own damn drinks & the ocean
Still calls my name when it feels my toes 
Near its shore. 

I still love roller coasters 
& you grew up to be 
Afraid 
of all girls who cld  
                                          ride 

Fearlessly

like 
me. 

I watched a river of women,

Rippling purple, white and golden,

Stream toward the National Capitol.

Along its border,

Like a purple flower floating,

Moved a young woman, worn, wraithlike.

All eyes alight, keenly observing the marchers.

Out there on the curb, she looked so little, so lonely,

Few appeared even to see her;

No one saluted her.

Yet commander was she of the column, its leader;

She was the spring whence arose that irresistible river of women

Streaming steadily towards the National Capitol.

Bliss—right now:

beneath a blue jade

vine’s beaded bangs,

my sonar function

asleep, the I unstressed,

a syllable glided over.

(Except wherever

in the line it’s placed,

the I is stressed.)

Behind me, a lipstick palm.

In front of me, the early

stages of sunrise,

the world before

highlighter’s applied.