Tanis aka Tani

One dark
MFA  
(Terminal degree)  
With  
Dreads  
Baptized  
In Mango    
And Kiwi,  
Sculpted  
Lips  
And a nose  
That could’ve  
Almost  
Partitioned  
Her out  
Of the  
Diaspora-  
Had parents  
Who were  
Hippies  
Church of  
Something  
Atlanta  
Booshie  
(Out of my  
League:  
Clearly  
Status  
Quo)  
And uh  
They  
were  
Tripping  
When they named her  
And her brother:  
(If ya ask me)  
Satanis  
And Lucious  
But  
She could  
Imitate  
Every  
Street drug  
On the market  
(Laying  
In my lap  
On the floor  
Of my bedroom  
Indian style  
Since my futon  
Was preoccupied  
By herbology-  
Acupuncture  
School  
At that time)  
Via  
Hand gesture  
And voice  
Although  
All I can  
Remember  
Are    
Quaaludes  
   
(“This is how  
It does you”  
She said)  
   
Bloop bloop, bloop bloop  
And her hand  
Was making waves  
   
Bitch  
Was clever  
   
In terms of  
Making me  
Feel it  
And    
Believe it  
From a    
Remote  
Distance.