Akhim Alexis

Black Boys Summer 2015, Hanging Outside Grandmother’s House as she Hosts Church Ladies

The cradle of summer, is best captured
in the bodies of sweating necks heavy with gold chains
& backs leaning on the staircase, listening to King Kunta.mp3 
arguing about the tide between Kendrick Lamar & J.Cole.
& we settle on the fact that they are part of the same ocean,
just different waves. Right then the song reaches its climax
and we all yell we want the funk! 
Then grandma peep through the window to shh us,
Now if I give you the funk, you gon’ take it!

Grandma apologies to Sister Dee & Sister Beverly
& says they always out there mixing up in that noise
& she puts on some music of her own, the type that
puts the ladies at ease, Use Me by Bill Withers.
& the base tickles their bunioned toes and they laugh
like a choir of cackling children. & grandma brings
the lemonade just in time for one of us boys to peep in
and say aye Ma, can I get some? & she rolls her eyes
but looks eager to share. She brings some glasses out
whispering in tune with the record player just keep on using me
until you use me up.