of black hands building beatboxes, or hearing the beautiful man
~after Nate Marshall
[Frank Ocean] is a beautiful man with a beautiful voice. – Lil B from The Fader article “Lil B Confirms He Worked on Frank Ocean’s Boys Don’t Cry.”
Celebrate black men
hugging, the ritual dap.
How a solider of sound pops
compliments like praise songs.
I think poetry is about rooms.
A season can be a room
of waiting.
I am reminded of summers
humid with brown lips,
The way an album is
a looking glass.
The way heart sounds
and suddenly stops
but it’s fine
because the internet is broken.
My heart beats open
like a tennis match.
Bow before gods of beatboxes,
synth machines,
pyres of creation
started and cuffed.
I hold my excitement
like I’m riding a bus.
I can’t believe
I’m still in love
with black hands
building beatboxes
and legends
and men
named Ocean.
I hope when I fall asleep,
I become a warehouse.
I just want a reason
To hang around
and stargaze.
I can’t believe
I’m still in love
after all this time.
I expected
to fade
quicker than
tidal waves.
I might be quickened
into the air
because Blond has
finally been released.
Black men loving freely
is like drinking
warm peach juice
from a can,
like hearing
a man
or
a beautiful voice.
***
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