—inspired by Us (dir. Jordan Peele, 2019)
THEN
To the fair!
When the fair comes to Fultondale,
you go. Line up in the parking lot
between Jack’s & China 1.
Funnel cake & popcorn cravings.
Wisps of cotton candy red
in your mouth. You’re not afraid
of portable rides. Watch out
for your little sister.
NOW
To the movies!
It’s fun to watch people
in the dark. People pretending
to be people. Big as the screen,
small as the script: building
character. A black woman
watches black girls watch
each other in the dark.
They are watching us.
Do black girls live?
What will happen
to black girls
in a funhouse?
What will happen
to black girls
who are going
Downstairs, seeing themselves
Upstairs, freeing themselves
Upstairs, greeting themselves
Downstairs, beating themselves
? ? ?
They forgot us.
THEN
To the fair!
When the fair comes to Fultondale,
you go. Line up in the parking lot
between Jack’s & China 1.
Funnel cake & popcorn cravings.
Wisps of cotton candy red
in your mouth. You’re not afraid
of portable rides. Watch out
for your little sister.
NOW
To the movies!
It’s fun to watch people
in the dark. People pretending
to be people. Big as the screen,
small as the script: building
character. A black woman
watches black girls watch
each other in the dark.
They are watching us.
Do black girls live?
What will happen
to black girls
in a funhouse?
What will happen
to black girls
who are going
Downstairs, seeing themselves
Upstairs, freeing themselves
Upstairs, greeting themselves
Downstairs, beating themselves
? ? ?
They forgot us.
Jasmine Flowers is a poet, copywriter, and well-watered garden from Birmingham, AL. She received her BA in English from the University of Alabama. Her poems are published or forthcoming in giallo and Mineral Lit Mag. She still wonders if jasmine flowers are her favorites. Follow her on Twitter: @jas_flow.