Raeford
Carolina blue skies
From the heavens to the corn stocks,
Feed me beef neckbones, rice and gravy
After we shell bushel after wooden bushel
Of peas in the bright daylight of the porch,
Feathers of turquía float
Eyes up, praying for greater,
Hands folded in humility,
Souls bare in devout moderation.
Sing old church songs that will forever be in my memories,
The same songs that still sail out
When I am absentmindedly moving around in my own home,
Dirt roads kiss slender paved streets,
The buck is to the East,
Homily sings through the Southern breeze,
West, pine trees greet resounding candied hums,
For my heart lies on the land of my descendants.
E.J. Batiste
is a writer, screenwriter, poet, and artist originally from Raeford, North Carolina. She holds an MFA degree in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte. E.J.'s creative work has appeared in various literary publications in North America and Europe; this includes published or forthcoming work in I-70 Review, For Women Who Roar, Southern Humanities Review, and others. Find more of her work at ericajasmin.com or on Instagram: @TheEricaJasmin.