eating the other

im here, trapped
down
in the
belly of the white beast-
like jonah, but with no reason to repent.
how'd i end up down here?

i never gave you permission to consume me whole
taking my soul and wrapping it around a pale finger
like a spaghetti strand
i was minding my own business, doing my thing
and before i know it yr sopping me up with sauce and
now... im stuck.

im not giving up without a fight
still kicking around, screaming yelling
but you swallowed me in one gulp
opened yr mouth wide and let me slide down yr throat
while i tried to claw my way out

im not worried, and im not scared either-
ive got some of the greats to keep me comapny

ella, bessie, luis and langston
to name a few
other jazz heads and poets and artists
dancers and dreamers, too.

hoping to blow our way out,
gurgling notes from our very bowels
tryna fly out on high sweet tones or
dance on dissonant chords
come out with heads held high-

ready to reclaim our thrones as
reigning monarchs of birdland.