Saturday
wissahickon creek water
holds the heat of 3 black femmes
wading against a downstream current
femme one, long legged stretched
a bush of tight curls wind
from sides of black underwear
femme two, unbuttons overall straps
slides with lace thong over moss rocks
femme three, tucks tampon string
between dark brown pussy lips
pulls an old dress over shoulders
lays old dress across slippery stone
bends back into creek water
cold shrinks dark brown nipples
across ribbed chest
current creeps up by the neck
strained to keep above water
maybe to keep face in sun
maybe to stay stimulated by green jungle trees
blocking city streets
maybe not willing to miss a laughter
definitely not willing to miss a laughter
definitely to keep hair from getting wet
especially black femme two
who weakened arm muscle
to spiral kinks parted down the middle
of a tender headed scalp
definitely to keep hair from getting wet
black femmes with their head above water
to keep an eye on the world
keep an eye on the man sitting some feet away
close enough for facial features
far enough to talk regular and not be heard
we can appreciate this man
who lets us be while he’s perched on a rock
honey bourbon backwood smoke twirling between his fingers
and we get it. all us black folks want
to get away from the world
without needing to leave the world
all the femmes still keep their head above water
Sunday
still wearing creek water panties
femme one crawls into twin bed
beside femme three
digs chin into neck
giggle apologies for sweat above lip
peels sports bra over pink fade of curls
femme three wraps self into long legs
breathes into folded fingers
across peach fuzz of naked lower back
and the sun just touched the morning
perfect lighting through the single window
everything looks soft in the room
everything issoft in the room and breathing
….my grandma taught me her third lesson in healing
understanding that a black womxn has a home
with walls made of other black womxn
ASHLEY DAVIS is a black queer femme womxn (she/they) artist, poet, human. Born in California, currently based in Philly with her Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Ashley has upcoming work being published in the anthology 'A Garden Of Black Joy: Global Poetry From The Edges Of Liberation & Living'(2019), and work currently published in WusGood. Ashley has done workshops with youth and teaching artists, has spoken on panels at universities and at AWP (2019), and collaborates with community artists to make space for black queer artists to thrive. Ashley was part of 2017 Voices of Our Nation (VONA) cohort facilitated by Patricia Smith, was a member of the 'House Slam' slam team in 2016 where the team placed 3rd at the National Poetry Slam Competition (NPS) and where Ashley was a 2nd place finalist at the National Underground Poetry Slam Competition (NUPIC). Find Ashley on instagram @ashleydavis_art twitter @ashleydavisart