2:16

 

2.16

 

 

I can’t talk about money I have none

      I am green in love in the black in life

 

the debt of my ancestors I am

      someone’s deficient ancestor

 

though my family is dying

                    one at a time deeper

 

into ground and deeper into soil

                    the sound of my sister

 

sobbing though she can’t be here

                    at the funeral she would if

 

she could    

                    there’s always next time

 

James Croal Jackson

James Croal Jackson is a Filipino-American poet. He has poems published in Perhappened, Kingdoms in the Wild, Capsule Stories, Ariel Chart, Rattle, and others. He edits The Mantle Poetry (themantlepoetry.com) from Pittsburgh, PA. (jamescroaljackson.com)