north star

bibles have been written / but i could add a thing or two

headed north for canaan / singing these blues / singing these blues

north star

By Bro. Yao

i reach into the sky

and bring down the rain

claw my hands in the earth

and the sorrow sings my name

plant my feet in the ground

twist like the vines

over every inch

of this brick and steel

bibles have been written

but i could add a thing or two

headed north for canaan

singing these blues

north star north star

where have you gone

cloudy day

* * * * *

Bro. Yao is an alumni of Bowie State University and the University of Maryland College Park, where he received an M.F.A. in Poetry. His work has been published in various journals and anthologies including Crab Orchard Review, African American Review, Soul Fires and Beyond the Frontier.