*featuring Minnie Riperton*

today i kissed a stranger

because the vibe was right

i felt his heart pulse

through eye contact

and lawd i got stuck starin like

lalalalala lalalalala lalalalala la la la la la

minnie keep singing to me

because your notes are almost as high as mi—

stop reading

stop

looking—stop

pressed between a rock and masculinity

is the hard place

you keep reading me

this boy feels like unpacking

a new durag and finding a new way to lay my edges down.

make me keep play lovin you

when it’s not spring time

because your kiss

sits in my stomach like a seed

waiting to stick

its roots into the ground. springtime.

grow within

me like all of the seasons

transcreating a universe just for two

because lovin you feels

like when moses parted the red sea

and the israelites never knew god

was planning to have goddesses pick out their afros

and create rocket ships

to pierce stratospheres

break down blackholes 

and fall in love with nameless stars

just because the vibe is right