Shrinkage

The crossroads between

Terrorized history

And hidden culture

Unhinging the wooden planks

Keeping the ground coated

Lurking underneath one may discover the world

Of not African enough due to disconnect 

And not American enough due to disrespect 

Through the crevices shines

A beacon of thick rich

Naps and intertwined coils

Pushing through moist castor oil soils

You can crush a flower in your palm

Or push a tree against concrete 

Yet my roots one may never seize

As the growth of our bloodlines

Developed and lies within my shrinkage

Written: October 18, 2020