by Evie Shockley

i am 70% water & 100% black
so i rain because shit brings me down
so i ocean because i’m just gonna keep coming back
so i river to carry on carrying on
so i rain because i sound sweet drumming tin
so i ocean because my blues are inky
so i river to bottom out
so i rain because i’m not always above it
so i ocean because i’m salty
so i river because you cross
so i rain to clear my thoughts and muddy yours
so i ocean because i wash up all over the world
so i river to run for our lives
so i rain because things can get gritty
so i ocean because you’re in over your head
so i river to put the dirt where it’ll do some good

Poem copyright 2024 by Evie Shockley. All rights reserved.

See two more poems from Evie Shockley debuted on The Fight & The Fiddle: “from the infinite alphabet of afroblues,”  and  “décima on the fabric of time :: sirius, polaris”

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Read more in this issue: Interview | Critical Essay | Writing Prompt