October’s Words

“Bicycles”

Midnight poems are bicycles
Taking us on safer journeys
Than jets
Quicker journeys
Than walking
But never as beautiful
A journey
As my back
Touching you under the quilt

Midnight poems
Sing a sweet song
Saying everything
Is all right

Everything
Is
Here for us
I reach out
To catch the laughter

The dog thinks
I need a kiss

Bicycles move
With the flow
Of the earth
Like a cloud
So quiet
In the October sky
Like licking ice cream
From a cone
Like knowing you
Will always
Be there

All day long I wait
For the sunset

The first star
The moon rise

I move
To a midnight
Poem
Called
You
Propping
Against
The dangers

Poem by Nikki Giovanni, here she is reading it. Art by Emma Amos, “Sandy and Her Husband”

4 thoughts on “October’s Words

  • Reply Flor Barajas Tena October 7, 2020 at 12:28 am

    Nikki Giovanni is my favorite poet. Her poem Ego Trippin’ was the first poem I memorized in 5th grade. Thank you for this. I love the last piece of the video where she says, “I love that.”

    • Reply latonya October 7, 2020 at 8:18 pm

      Ahh I love that story, Flor!

      Hope you’re doing well.

      x

  • Reply Frieda October 18, 2020 at 5:30 am

    Soo beautiful <3 It inspired me to order the "Bicylces: Love Poems" collection right away to my local bookstore. I want to read more of this.

    • Reply latonya October 19, 2020 at 11:05 am

      Oh yay, happ it inspired you!

      x

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