(blackjack Elegy for Erica Garner, Daughter of Eric Garner)
#1.
Daddy’s girl: died giving breath
To a manchild named after her
father: whose breath was stolen
On the street by a police
man: whose apology was not
Enough to silence her voice
For Justice. Her death was
too ordinary, too black
Too small for such a big life.
#2.
Deep obsidian vessel
Bursting with brilliant blood
Red roses and deep purple
Periwinkles. Wild blossoms
Spilling out from her every-
which-way. Roots cracking Staten
Island sidewalks. Eye want to give
You medals of flowers as
Freely as you gave your life.
#3.
Savior. She, like too many
Women, gather our broken
Pieces from the streets, from back
Roads, floating in rivers, creeks,
& streams & try to stitch us
back together again good
Like knew, the way they new us
With only the light of their
Laboring lives to work by.