For The Little Black Girl Under The Table

grin with two teeth missing /float
up and through and in between /blue-tongued
with sticky fingers /catch
up baby, be /light
secrets behind skirts /be
remembered in doorways /daisies
made into crowns /whisper
rock-scratched sidewalk prophecies /dreams
of purple jelly beans and /today
the street lights dance, they /raise
up weed-like /up
with the wind /whole
mouth full of /roaring
burning/ becoming
/Home

Jay Délise (they/them) (official jester of Sugar Hill) is a writer, performance artist, and eater of grapes, based in Harlem, New York. They have performed at The United Nations, The Schomburg Center, The Pulitzer Center, and Roundhouse. Their work has been highlighted around the world and in publications including Afropunk, Vagabond City, Glass Poetry Press, and Huffington Post.