Against Heaven
        with "Goin' Up Yonder" & Louise Glück's Nobel Prize speech

I can take the pain whittling dad's body to the red balances of his account
The heartaches they bring: twin strokes, diabetes, ritual crucifixion of his feelings and
The comfort in knowing as he drives cab, there's engineers in Lagos with his experience
I'll soon be gone, college-flung debtchild taught empire contains no blame

As God gives me grace, I dump His dope, cut and flushed till I'm no wish
I'll run this race clean-sinning judge-hunting hex-lining a route to revenge
Until I see my savior in a city on fire, bank windows busted by Jesus himself
Face to face with riot cops, tased to piss, tunic charged with only the belief

I'm goin' up yonder to jailbreak Cousin (everybody named that in the perfect world)
(Goin' up yonder) to repo mansions (Lil Black Boy swears he has been promised)
I'm goin' up yonder to the Michelin stars (cash my feast post-dated after death)
(Goin' up yonder) to the Ivy plantation (hood dad so he will be recognized)

I'm goin' up yonder in a tux of knives, cursing in tongues—turn down for what
To be with my Lord? Tell the Wiz to guard his curtain—I know exactly what he is

Tweet
Copyright © 2022 Kemi Alabi All rights reserved
from Beloit Poetry Journal
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission