Duplex with a back house
after Jericho Brown and Tayari Jones
Duplex with a back house | 06/30
(after Jericho Brown and Tayari Jones)
Black girl best friend is wind and warrior
Weather vanes spin looking for direction
My head spins looking for direction
Our eyes meet in silent agreement
Our spirits meet in silent agreement
Can friendship remember resurrection?
Sister, remember our resurrection?
My past self called you an enemy
The white world called you an enemy
How quickly do we recognize kin?
How quickly do you recognize kin?
Found family a reflection of agency
Family found a reflection of agency
Best friend is auntie too her kids our cousins
Auntie is best friend too her cousins our kids
This that friend you will have for a lifetime
This that friend you will have for a lifetime
Black girl best friend is wind and warrior Today’s poem, “Duplex with a back house,” is inspired by two living greats. Tayari Jones and Jericho Brown were in conversation tonight at Emory, celebrating the release of Kin. Of course, Spelmanites came out in droves to support our sister-writer on her next classic novel. It’s special to see Atlanta and AUC stories uplifted. I haven’t read Kin yet, so not much on that, but it’s the most promoted title I can remember in recent years, and I hear they’re saying it’s the new Sula.
A friendship epic is the thematic inspiration for this poem. Tayari spoke about how found family represents one’s agency as opposed to our bonded by blood relationships. When I published my first chapbook, “Gentlewoman,” in my senior year of high school, it included a series of ‘Black Girl Best Friend’ haiku. This duplex is an extension of that.
I don’t often write in form, but I wanted to try Jericho’s invention. I studied two of Jericho's poems, “Duplex (A poem is a gesture toward home)” and “Duplex (I Begin with Love)”, and the instructions below. While we waited for Tayari to sign our books, I hopped out of line to wish Jericho a very Happy Poetry Month. He remembered that we met before and I asked for a picture then too, “What you doing collecting a little gallery of us?” I spent my time in line writing this poem and updating my mom on my friends and recent events. I admittedly got carried away, hence why my duplex has an extension, a back house, two extra couplets, too good to remove once I noticed by mistake. Did you write a poem today? Have you written a duplex? Please send me yours.
My theme song for the duplex is Saba’s song “Smile” from the album Care For Me. “Sweet west side Chicago / Two flat apartment / red brick and garden / that’s been forgotten.” I can not forget a night like this. I can not forget the power of friendship. I will not forget the power of poetry.
Black Blessings,
ming joi