Yusef Komunyakaa

2 months ago | 3quarksdaily.com | Yusef Komunyakaa |Jim Culleny

Venus's - flytrapsI am five, . Wading out into the deep .. Sunny grass, Unmindful of snakes . & yellow jackets, out .. To the yellow flowers Quivering in sluggish heat. . Don't mess with me .. 'Cause I have my Lone Ranger Six-shooter. I can hurt . You with questions .. Like silver bullets. The tall flowers in my dreams are . Big as the First State Bank, . & they eat all the people Except the ones I love. . They have women's names, .. With mouths like where Babies come from. I am five. . I'll dance for you ..

2 months ago | princetonlibrary.libnet.info | Julian Zelizer |Yusef Komunyakaa |Serene J. Khader |Melissa Caughey

About the project:The Virgin Mary is the world’s most storied person. For two millennia, countless stories have been told about the miracles the Mother of Jesus Christ has performed for the faithful who call upon her name. Africans were among the first to compose stories about her and over the centuries folk tellers from Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia have written 1,000 short, meaningful narratives about her and healing, reparative justice, and personal ethics in a violent world.

Dec 6, 2024 | thepatrioticvanguard.com | Yusef Komunyakaa

Blind FishBy Yusef KomunyakaaCaught here in your limestone cave,lost in a limbo of slow water torture,for you, each day is night always. Condemned to circle contours of a god’spoint of view, pale swimmersin this light you are a deck of cardsshuffled by a pro. I back away,& you come forth like fallingleaves. False prophecy of thishour, when I come closer, you ease away. How do you see so deeplyin darkness? I wonder if you knowthe shape of gone, of never been born.

Jul 26, 2024 | 3quarksdaily.com | Yusef Komunyakaa |Jim Culleny

Temples of SmokeFire shimmied and reached up From the iron furnace and grabbed Sawdust from the pitchfork Before I could make it across The floor or take a half step Back, as the boiler room sung About what trees were before Men & money. Those nights Smelled of greenness & sweat As steam moved through miles Of winding pipes to turn wheels That pushed blades and rotated Man-high saws.

Jun 10, 2024 | newyorker.com | Yusef Komunyakaa

One snowy Xmas morningshe said, “Son, come here& give me a great big hug.”She lifted him off the floor,her bright flowery perfumeon his Hopalong Cassidyoutfit, & his two cap pistolsalso. Then she sat him downin his chair, & he heard a tearin her strong voice saying“Oh, yeah, I got somethingfor you,” as she handed hima green ball with silver starsall over it. He slowly peeledoff the glossy paper, & he justheld the apple as if it weregolden.