Golden Shovel to the God of Bloodshed

A poem by Jermaine Thompson

2021

Months--Poetry
Poetry

en-US

text

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Jermaine Thompson_Golden Shovel.pdf

Copyright protected by Jermaine Thompson. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required.

Note on transcription: This transcription may not reflect the poetic form established by the poet. Please refer to the PDF file of this poem available in the Files section for proper formatting.


Golden Shovel to the God of Bloodshed

Who numbers our heads / who blood-washes us white / rummages us / wheat from chaff / I’m
down here waiting / on you to spit & mud the eyes / of certain candescent sapiens / those rooting
for a platinum-&-plenty You // There’s rumor of war / in Heaven / of some angels lobbying for
an end to death / bed conversion / to coattail goin’-up / tales of a smoke-filled memo / says every
else who come / got to bear a BART pass / a loosie / or a hot-comb scar / must be lead-plugged body
/ a barbwire jaw / a Diddy-bop / re-mastered / must have survived / being born again / Black.