Nothing Stays The Same.

Everything changes.

As I sit in the car with the engine running,
Burning imperceptible increments of gas, 

The kind where you go from half a tank to low fuel warning
In just a few tire rotations…

An abandoned building. 
A vacant, dilapidated home. 
Often inhabited by drug dealers or the unhoused.

I stare at the structure, unsound. 
It’s weary materials ready to crumble
At the slightest gust of wind.

Succumbing to years of neglect and unwantedness.

…

It’s 50 degrees in February. 
The weather is changing.

Not a four perfectly delineated seasons
kind of change.

Where you know it's safe to put away
the heavy winter coat

and bring the summer clothes
front and center closet.

It’s…

Hurry up! Let’s make this light!
I yell to, not at, my kids
Lagging behind 
Engaged in uncomplicated childhood amusement.

Who’s taller? 
I bet you can’t do this!
The world is their playground. 

But now’s not the time! 
Hurry up! 

…

100% Acceptance Rate
All of us will go to college
The school promised it

If we do our part
All 150 of us
Smart
Ready to embark

Day one:
First period.

Jermaine literally jumped for joy
Bounding high over the…

God

If I’m to be confined

To this dark room 

With a single beam of sunlight

Slicing through the black

Illuminating my shadowy corner

Then let me be a disco ball

Made of fragmented mirrors 

And shards of glass

Scattering…

Excuse me sir...?

Salamalayka. I see ya headwrap. You a Muslim?

I heard dat. Say brotha, I don't mean ta bother you, but can you spare a lil change?

I'm just tryna buy me sum'm ta eat.

Man yeah I…

The sunrise is the best morning news. 

Before the report about rush hour traffic
An outbound accident adding another hour to your commute. 

Before the report about the fire in an abandoned warehouse that raged overnight and claimed no lives…

Their Sign:

"Danger: High Voltage"

Me

I am voltage

Pure, unbridled energy

I am

Innately plugged in

To an infinite power source 

A force conducting flow

I am Raiden

Radiating

Raising vibrations

Their response:

"You: dangerous" 

Shocking.

This is probably the closest 
I’ve ever been
To a crime scene

The irony
Of watching blood and gore
Horror
On the tv screen
Jump scare

Startled as 20 shots ring
The iron

Definitely woke up the kids
Who run…

i hate you.

The words plain

But mommy said
The outburst was said
With vitriol 

I scratch
Deep into the reservoirs of my brain
For a definition
Processing

Bitterly harsh or caustic language
Stated with
No, flung with
Like mud

…

BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM

BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM

WHO
IN
THE
FUCK

Is bangin' on the door
at 9:30 pm?!?

I check the gate camera monitor 
only showing a white suv
glowing under the streelights

Police?

I forgot to lock the gate 
so the banger was…

overachievement 
is built on
a fear 
of failure

petrified
i'll never reach 
the atmospheric bars I’ve set for myself 

saddled in a cycle of A for effort 
and a B for product 
but still not good enough, 
C comments
revise

…

Other than the lost five-dollar bill
tucked away in a lint-filled savings account
a hoodie
hiding in the back of my closet 

I rarely handle physical money these days
I use my phone

To click, click 
Face scan 
Wallet activated …

A child cannot be taught by anyone who despises them
And a child cannot afford to be fooled
James Baldwin

So when I answered the calling as Mr. DeVaul
I was all-in
Brought in my almond-skinned melanin blend

One of…

Spider 
Suspended from unseen string
Swinging, solemnly 

Surely somebody will swipe it
Surprised shriek
“SPIDER!”

Silently, I stalk 
Stealthily 
I see

Sweet sleeping spider 
Swaying on silk 
Swinging, solemnly 

I safeguard a swift second 
So long,
Spider

Sometimes I run the bases
Just for fun
Swinging at pitches 
That will never come 

Still my bat goes SWACK
Home Run! 

Except I'm scared to leave the box 
Afraid 
I might trip over gravel and rocks
I’ve memorized the…

GETCHO MUTHAFUCKIN ASS IN THE CAR!!!
YOU DO THIS EVERY FUCKIN MORNING!!!

A tirade
At 7:30 in the AM
It's too early for all that

It’s quiet otherwise 
Save for the birds chirping
Overhead red eye flights 
The occasional car …

This morning
I had leftover pizza
For breakfast. 

Did I reheat it?
No.
It was cold. 

Did I plate it?
No. 
I wrapped it in a napkin. 

I wasn’t in the mood for
the usual. 

Gluten-free vegan bagel
Air-fryer crisped…

After the pleasantries and introductions
And shimmering first impressions

After the swipe right match
And ending of so many gone lefts

After the nice to meet you too
And we have so much in common!

After the we finally slept…

The difference between 
Muse and 
Mute
Is just one letter 
Check it

If you change the one that waves 
Into
One that creates 
Intersection

Suggesting lanes 
Who goes, who stays 
Right of ways
Different message 

When I think of muse …