one day

Give me one day with you

and I'll show you everything.

I'll cook for you.

You'll know that my

stews are too salty and

my soups are without flavor.

My fufu has deep white knots because

I'm not strong enough whip it smooth.

I eat my mangoes like a starving child,

chewing skin, sucking

and raking my teeth

across the surface of the stone.

In conversation, the whole world

distracts me.

You will repeat your words once,

twice,

three times,

before I hear you.

After a shower, on hot days,

I lie around naked and let the tender

breezes coming in through the

windows layer my skin with ash.

At night, in the darkness,

with your head cradled on my thighs

I will show you the rot in my teeth

the calluses that once were toes

cracked skin and dry hair,

I'll show you my black scars

and hopefully, with great care,

I'll show you why you were wrong

to want something that calls

the dark home,

I will blow holes in your smoky mirage.