This Moment
the sun directly over my house
kisses my already brown skin
mistaking me for the soil that grows life
living things sonder
a radio booming with trap drums
the smell of what we call the outside coming from porches
laughter heaving along with it joy and carelessness
runners onward with collarbones rising out of every breath
i wanna tell jewel that i found someone to save my soul
and that it is funny but the guy i sang ‘you
were meant for me’ ended up not being meant for me at all
my yellow lighter must be what’s attracting this bee
staring at it i sit writing lyrics ive been writing since 2003
is june 25th that far off for people to hear these words finally
collecting memories for a soundcloud project
is not unlike digging for quarters in the couch to buy something good
this moment a lifetime ahead of me and i am already here
An Obituary for Queen Twiggs
She reigned her whole life until years had grown on her body
and was compelled to rule from her throne
when her lungs had grown too weak and her legs too frail
to support the weight of the diaspora on her shoulders
Sandra Twiggs died in Broward County
while on the warfield against emphysema
and a broken heart
her regal hair kept short and stressed
unbrushed and unperfumed before her presentation
She was taken from her throne and wheeled out
by an anonymous worker in seafoam scrubs and baby
blue powdered latex gloves
made small by a table that blocked her body from view
and a judge who blocked her voice from speaking
Stripped of her royal robes and dressed in a brown shirt
betrayed skin the deep color of rich earth
she cried out for help and for air in her lungs
she was given was a small white cup of water
too shallow to quench her soul’s thirst
Her fist balled up as a stand for her aching forehead
forced into a quietude of tragic permanence
Two days later, the Queen died.
For 2020
I want everyone in my neighborhood who went to prison on drug charges freed for president
Fresh vegetables and fruits within walking distance of our government housing for president
Clean needles and free rehab to manage addiction for president
The absence of black bodies in the street for president
Our friends never grappling with deportation for president
People with disabilities not being legally employed on less than minimum wage for president
Diabetics not forced to fundraise insulin money for president
Predatory lenders compelled to pay back every dime they robbed from the hood for president
Ethnic people commanding as much respect as ethnic food in America for president
Poor folks being able to take their medicine without rationing for president
The Truth about power and powerlessness for president
Libraries and ball courts on every block for president
Parks in every community so we can have kickbacks and cookouts for president
Welfare offices treating people as dignified humans for president
Homeless people living in all these empty homes in town for president
Mindsets that keep our children safe in movie theatres for president
Training for every public employee on how to handle mental health crises for president
Mountains and hills my children can one day explore for president
Air still crisp enough to breathe and water still pure enough to drink for president
An answer to what the value of our 40 acres and a mule is today for president
Not having to eat brick noodles to afford heat in the winter for president
Joseph Soto is currently wrapping up his studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. His poetic interests are in expressions of daily life and the Black experience through freeform poetry and uniquely marginalized artistic mediums such as hip hop, and he views himself as a student and poet in the lineage of artists such as Tupac Shakur and James Baldwin. From Aurora, Colorado, he spends his free time writing music and enjoying as much sunlight as possible.