Tell me Grandfather
did you ever
try
to scrub out
your dark
Mediterranean
skin
your Camels
original Napolitano
tongue
at home
at night
while your family
slept
did you
spiral and spiral
about tomorrow
like I do
you tailoring
for Louisville’s
white Southerners
and I
white
white
trying
to unwind
the fire white
devils
who snake
into our brains
from the time
we can see
we can hear
we can
taste
taste
this licorice spice
of privilege
and have no idea.
*Liquirizia means “licorice” in Itialian
