new moon in Cancer // annular solar eclipse

water-resistant 

I woke up with a laugh and carried it around 

because I get to forget 

I set it down next to my coffee, iced and black, and picked up my phone 

I teased myself through the blue light, 

and  stole three jokes from the past before news caught up with me 

when the small puddles dry up 

they leave salty stains streaked down the screen

it is water-resistant

another language to track where the pain fell

the only one I had this time 

to speak

of ritualized racism

weaponized whiteness 

and a matrix of mass mourning 

I thought I had something to say, but I guess I left it all on the glass, and I’ve learned to love myself dressed up in sorrow, so I am going back to bed 

but tomorrow, will you please put on white and cry with me?

plump tears of gasoline

it is saltwater-resistant

it will not drown but will it spark?

so the day after that, when we wake up

we can laugh 

and laugh 

and laugh