Herringbone
BY GABRIEL RAMIREZ
“Too many chains, need another chest.”
– Nipsey Hussle
One for every parent. Teachers and
homies. Call this drip memoriam.
Twenty-four inches of gold say they
on my heart. Gone but never plated.
Pay respect by paying for the real.
Walk into funeral home stillness.
Walk into jewelry store buzzing.
Ancestors keep me shining. Pop’s chain
Herringbone. Broken clasp. Dented/Blessed.
See flex, see coping mechanism.
Retail therapy or how I let
you know who blesses me? Their promised
cliche halos on my collarbone.
Heaven of my brain around my neck?
I don’t want grief looking good on me.
Chains for every obituary?
I don’t got it. I’m deep in my bag.
I’m mourning. I got my dead on me.
Shoutout to the Dead, to the Dead, to the Dead
BY GABRIEL RAMIREZ
Inspired by Baby Keem’s trademark usa
Every voice we miss. We sing for the dead.
Not much hope. We try laughing for the dead.
Grieve like this. Blame another for the death.
Grieve like that. Pour libations for the dead.
Ain’t care ‘bout my face. Just ‘bout Pop’s jacket.
Fuck your Dad! Earthed his dumbass for the dead.
Begging Abuela Ana for her strength.
For the living. Staying strong for the dead.
Got a reading from my Babalawo.
Gotta warn Mom bout her blood for the dead.
Could count. One hand. How much I swore on them.
Dead in your eye. Never lie on the dead!
Too many times, I’ve been my biggest threat.
Oshun watches over me with the dead.
Learned to hold my lunch at funerals.
Gotta make sure folks are good for the dead.
My ancestors stay lining my muscles.
Might feel weak but never am. Bless the dead.
The Golden Herringbone
BY GABRIEL RAMIREZ
After Gwendolyn Brooks
Choosing life shouldn’t be a choice. I
don’t know what has hurt you. I assure
you, life can be much sweeter to you.
When you aren’t sweet to yourself, death
rings its hundred melting bells and will
feed on your stillness. Burn sage and wait.
Today doesn’t want your last breath. Death
wants you tender from your mistakes, has
dreams of your face wrinkling into a
smile despite all that you’ve survived. Lot
turned garden turned home turned a life of
your favorite music, body like time.
Fluid. Unstoppable. Graceful. Death
warded away by miracles. Can
you be the miracle and attend
to your needs like a beloved to
become someone you love? Today you
deserve joy and again; tomorrow
