October 26, 2019

October 26, 2019
My Namesake's Wedding by Farah Lawal Harris, 2024

For my dear, childhood friend, Farrah's wedding.

I feared going down to Sealy, Texas,

too close to where Sandra Bland

transitioned from woman to martyr.

I bawled like a baby watching

my sister from another mister

walk down the aisle hand in hand

with her two best friends.

Her parents beamed down through

sun rays and clear, saturated blue skies,

pleasant afternoon, lightly crisp night--

spirits so present and proud.

At the reception,

we backed dat azz up

from window to wall,

got our 30-somethin freak on,

sang "Hayyyyy in the middle of the barn!"

in a literal barn with

cool folks I grew up next to in grade school.

It felt like home.

I slept alone in a hotel room for two nights,

enjoyed the quiet times between sweet FaceTimes,

ate the best pho I ever tasted in my life,

learned my life is ruled by wisdom, not fear.

Travel aware.

The whole time I was there,

I loved

and was loved.