To Danez Smith

I woke up thinking about that time

you asked

“Sir, are you ok?”

after sitting in my own heat and sweat,

crying in my own self

while in a room of mannequins

facing towards you

and listening to your gentle slaps on my soul.

You,

helped me face what I could not

You,

helped me bring forth that slumping man

and I thank you.

-MAS

Early morning riser

keep you by my side

Ribs lay close to fire

how’d you get past skin?

Laying left beside you

I correct my sins

It’s been a fight within

but I can’t swing without you

from lovers to best friends

we’ve rekindled fire.

-MAS

Cumin, just enough

chicken thighs 6 with the bone in

turmeric, for color

salt, not too much but enough for flavor

Pepper, generously

cayenne pepper, enough to clear sinuses

Chili powder, because this is a chili

half a cup of jasmine rice, for filling

half a cup of lentils, for extra filling

two large chopped carrots

two large chopped celery sticks

one large rustic potato, diced

half of a large onion, sliced

2-3 cups of chicken stock or broth

place lid on large pot

Cook slowly until chicken easily comes off its bone,

separate meat from bone,

leave bone in, this is structure, love, flavor, surprise,

cook for another hour,

turn off heat,

let it sit for half an hour,

cry a few tears of joy, and mix them thoroughly.

-MAS

Writing takes time

so I try less

and less

and less

until the emotions take hold

then I tell the page about it all

and sometimes I’ll kiss the paper

in the most gentle way

and sometimes I’ll ignore the lines

and twist myself beneath

on the sides

on top

yes,

devotion.

and it’s always raining droplets of ink

and these books are drenched

soaking

rain for the world

over and over and over and over and over again

and this writing keeps me fertile

-MAS

I am

still

in the

life long

process

of

defining love

and

I can’t think of any other

art form

that makes me want to stay alive

-MAS

A rift appears

mouthing gestures

-MAS

YNEZ

appearing at my place of slumber

every morning

pressing at the door

swiping through the rift

to get to me

to

play

like it’s the first time

again

tossing

the purple thing

while you

dip

hide

then uncover your position.

And

that happened until your breathing

became a balloon in your stomach

so

we

would sit together

with you at my side

resting

until

the next day

-MAS

I

asked

you

to break

my

heart

so

that

I can finally

set those old feelings free

and

you

did

without

hesitation

and

I’m fine

with love’s

irony.

-MAS

Ms. Lucille Clifton,

I hope it’s ok

to call you that

Anyway,

I’m writing to let you

know

gratitude

and

respect

and

love

in

just

a few words

-MAS

It feels good to be alive

-MAS

swinging

softly

sweetly

-MAS

Deity, Virgin, Mother

although a blessing

is tainted

making it

unholy

you still

protect your children

so I lay beneath your arms

a home

and entangle within your honor

-MAS

let

them

come

in

gentle waves

as feelings

even if it is anger

the angrier

the better

because there is no way

to go but

softer

and

sweeter

-MAS

Connecting with mind

a wandering mind

a wandering one

that notices it all

absorbing

and attempting

to refuse what’s not wanted

but having to take it

no

bring it in

and figuring out what to do with it later

like a DEMO

that might see the light of day

or

remain vaulted

underneath a bed

or on closet shelves

or squeezed between objects

in a bin

or kept next to the chest

never letting others see it

or burned

forgotten

or

published online

with all of its errors

-MAS

Scribbling In Public

More dangerous than crossing

at the body of the street

but I step

with blindness racing across my face

and the guy next to me can’t write

unless he sees me in action

and

that’s why I’m trying to get to the other side.

-MAS