Poet of the Week: Danez Smith
at the down low house party
don’t expect no nigga to dance.
we drink Hen, hold the wall
graze an elbow & pray it last forever.
everybody wants to touch a nigga, but don’t.
we say wats gud meaning I could love you until my jaw
turns to dust. we say yo meaning let my body
be a falcon’s talon & your body be the soft innards of goats
but we mostly say nothing, just sip
some good brown trying to get drunk
with permission. sometime between here
& being straight again, some sweet
boned, glittering boy shows up, starts vogueing & shit
his sharp hips pierce our desire, make our mouths water
& water & we call him faggot meaning bravery
faggot meaning I often dream
of you, flesh damp & confused for mine
faggot meaning Hail the queen! Hail the queen!
faggot meaning I been waited ages to dance with you