Jamila Woods
I Miss All My Exes
I miss all my exes
Who open car doors
Light nag champa in the living room
Burn mixtape CDs, cook veggie burgers with Lawry's, lemon pepper everything
Who recite plots of movies, oil my scalp, massage my neck
Who remind me to wear my bonnet, who wear my bonnet
Brush teeth with me, pray for me
Bring me a cool glass of water in the mornings
Who smell like cannabis smoke, argan oil, rosewater, sweat
Who bring me two kinds of flowers
Who bring homemade salads to my grandma’s house
Who wash her dishes aftеr family dinner
Who drive me to thе airport, who pick me up
Who let me pick from their plate, split two meals at the restaurant
Who make sure I have winter boots, who work out with me
Work with me, who cuddle on the couch, binge watch with me Tell me I'm beautiful, kiss my ears, hold my hand in the car
Drive with one hand, drive me to a field of fireflies
Drive me to the waterfall, who don't believe what I say about the stars, but listen anyway
Who don't believe what I read in the cards, but ask anyway
Who talk to God in a different language, who don't
Who write poems, who hold the guitar neck tender in their palm, who have too many pairs of shoes
Who meditate with me, who yell too loud
Who drink too much, who finesse the government
Who take good photos of me
Why I look at the camera like I'm in love
Why I always stay longer than I should
I never left any one of them, not really
I just went somewhere new