grandmother

my grandmother

sits on the couch

and we thought we were silly

thought

laughter was the invention

of our strong teeth

that we were lean black

magnificent

homogeneus in our stride

and grandmother is watching

       we run in and out

bring the day back through

the livingroom

in shimmering bands

of gold yellow and blue

and how strong we are

fences fly beneath us

we chainlink the world

cover cadilacs in single steps

and grandmother is reading

while we dance the doowop

and throw our hands

oh, how straight we are

the elegant lines between our joints

our fingers crooking

into the air like knotty black branches

my brother john trips

his cut off shorts rip

all our sides quiver

laughter wells up strong

but grandmother is watching

we soar we float

we constrain our smiles we hide

we breathe in the dazzling morning

we fall apart inside

and whatan unexpected sight

grandmother is bubbling

tearing bouncing beneath her weight

and the common air between us

like an ocean come home

is ancient

and beautiful