After Audre Lorde’s Hugo I

once i was coral
living breathing speaking
to you
who would listen
once
layered days ago
lifetimes

storm was affirmation
once you were the you I prayed for
once rain was blessing living breathing once

we built our days
for presence
because where air
touch ground
touch water
is now
is always

people without winter
who could float
sometime we knew
we would always exist

that our bodies
deep of water
would shout our names
some hurricane later

once

we were not afraid
to blow away

for Jeremiah Gumbs