Miss Black America
Does she grind slow
on back-when harmonies
squint at Boyz II Men high notes
or mosh-pit in shit-kickers
Is she a flower in your mind
Is she bootylicious
Did her mama say
“there’d be days like this”
Is she rhythm
or blues Billie or Billie Jean
Do the white boys back it up
Are their mothers terrified
—Morgan Parker
—found in Other People’s Comfort Keeps Me Up at Night (2021; this poem 2015)