Reasons that trigger(ed) fight or flight responses in the author:

Agoraphobia (fear of leaving one’s home or crowded spaces): I was afraid of y’all’s germs before we were mandated to wear masks on faces.

I was cut from a mature mother plant—glowing, succulent leaves

of astonishing beauty.

My root system strong,

but I struggled to get on.

My name means “joy,”

which was privately funny;

I smile lovely,

but lean melancholy.

I am a sunflower, growing

toward the sun and sprouting

edible seeds before

I’m gone.

Alas! My review

of the year 2022.

I’d give it a 1/10,

do not recommend.

Fame is a B-I-T-C-H;

has a song

that’s played out

when it’s still new.

I grew up at a time when

horror flicks

were watched by kids.

Horribly

Insensitive

Joke about “ghetto names.”

Kinda

Lame.

Uncertain, I sowed seeds,

babied them under grow lights.

I created life!

I put the weight down.

I can’t carry hate or ill will

if I wanna heal.

You will transform from gold

into token;

in other words, reverse alchemy.

I don’t know

what a shamble is—

just that my life was in ‘em.

My eyes began to water.

There’s something about

another Black woman’s tears

I’m tired of writing sad poems,

tired of the reminder

that my existence is political.