Zoom Zooms ‘n’ Wham Whams
©2000 Fumilayo Bankole
We conduct ninety-nine cent store raids on Zoom Zooms Stuff all pockets w granola bars N bit uh honey ’til bulged suspiciously Yoruba-colored juju bee Hand in pocket w Pistachio-breath X hardcore banger Now critic of th movies Zoom Zooms like 2 oranges n plums 5 month old previews That r new to us, clear Th quick fists of television Wham whams that sigh when twisted open N fizzle columns up thru Landmark darkness Back row @ th Odeon Cineplex Zoom zooms that sometime stick to sleeves When we get tucked under leg over leg That smell sweet salty caliente Crunched while we’re 2 arms of an Afterlife shirt In a warm soft pretzel Still scavenging pockets for wham whams Well into th feature Drawing attention from A mistress in th changing face of blue Seated near our oasis black man black woman Digging on zoom zooms My tongue, a mess o’ honey that make The actors act better
A, T-K
©2000 Fumilayo Bankole
This for all th cain’t read Bangers gangsters Tipsy loaders Slash audio tactile kinesthetic learners Whose fathers were ambrosia They mothers tasted before Th internal leak Whose mamas were Smooth stones skipped On th surface of a poem This for all th lazy-ass Motha phucka Slash audio tactile kinesthetic learners Who feel th stage in th street Rhyming hands to beats Touched on females So much one got a belly That set him runnin’ From eye to ear to ear to eye Blue jay in arterial red tide Wandering th shore Between brow n anus This for all th x-whatever Slash audio tactile kinesthetic learners That got they shit togetha
Place in th Circle
©2000 Fumilayo Bankole
They can’t sit @ th circle of elders ‘Cause they too busy Wrapping grapevine ‘Round otha hexagenarians Can’t @ th circle ‘Cause it’s too spring reminisce Winter elbow summer Cup o’ Tampico hear dip for Parabolic situations Can’t find ’em Just sine waves in gold Promised of these years W senior discounts Tickets attached to drumsticks Of silver birds Too many corners to stand on Counters to sit @ Laid up Can’t attend these circles That conflict w Th stories, games, court dates Kitchens integrated w Grandchildren n troubled daughters Conflicting work left in hands N back required by four walls Times a bunch of mouths Plus cable Too busy Breaking down in th liver N heart n blood Can’t sit in th circle Where they make decisions ‘Cause who u calling ol’ @ fiddy Too squarely rooted in isolation Too busy disappointed In th youth[click to view introduction]