Makalani Bandele

unit_4,

an interrogative unit

         how does it itself not combust into flames? can i get an amen? are you hungry enough to eat the rich? what's at stake in queer pleasure? where the party at? name a fictional gay character you can't live without? whatchu in for, black? what's driving this investigation? is that your ass hanging out or did you forget to close your mouth? any regrets? how much time they give you, og? who would you cast as the lead character's old dying flame? this or that? are you familiar with the various religious traditions' prohibition against the entertainment of swine? do you value coherence or diffraction in your demonstration? pardonnez-moi mademoiselle, but where the fuck am i, and how do you get to detroit?1

[1] Richard Pryor. Excerpt from “Africa.” Live on Sunset Strip. Warner Bros. Records, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQP9UxF46sk.

unit_68

        a light fortress of breath builds, and maybe more language. posted up for the foreseeable cello. trying to keep ballerinas off their toes so much, but still dancing gracefully. that which exceeds the room, constrains legibility hopefully. always been in the small percentage of people. ode to constructing new meaning in the spaces the gaps open up. good lookin' out. i keep ray ray in the shu on the inside of me. how to stay level to the ground and still be getting' down? your density be to high to vibe for the fam. the ripple effect. breath in spaces of light to be an ode like a fortress for us in the gaps of meaning. a mouthful of hand that knows only crush. don't hurt yourself now. wrong as some sentence-makers making water not seek its own level of advanced contriteness. sail on down the line 'bout a half a mile or so, and i don't really wanna know where you're going.2  jopappy’s  gonna let it slide this time, but i betchu better not try and correct his english again.

[2] The Commodores. Lyrics to “Sail On”. Genius, 2019, https://genius.com/Commodores-sail-on-lyrics.