A tattoo of rain on the window pane
A military drum, fitting in its way
You wouldn’t recognize me, Oakland
Brass buttons and polished boots
The eyes of a soldier
Cold and hard
No longer the naked warrior, spear held high
Face painted bright
Challenging the heavens
Full of laughter and love.
Last night I watched you burn
Fists clenched in anger
Defiant
Flames of passion curling around you
Like my arms used to
And I wondered
If you would recognize me now
Hoping that you would lie to me
And pretend that nothing had changed between us.
I still remember those summers
Your cock glistening with my lust, ebony sheathed in pink
Drenched in sweat
A better memory, less bitter than the one I hold now
Black girl, brown girl, white girl
It makes no difference
As we tell our stories in the dark…
Oh, Oakland
I long to feel your night around me
To feel safe in your arms
The sound of fear drowned
by the beating of hearts pressed together
And breathless gasps as we fuck
Feeling you stiffen within me
As I cock my gun
And go to war.
