Mona Lisa Saloy.
“Southern Sisters.”
There’s a way
crescent city woman,
downtown brown sisters,
put a face towel
on their shoulders,
sweat rags for summers,
when it’s hot enough
to melt toe cheese
on the banquette.
There’s a way N’awlins women,
brick-headred sisters,
carry a ’kerchief
through long tan fingers;
it’s like
the hand that fans you.
There’s a way crescent city sisters
throw a wink
with a wide smile.
So good,
makes you want to kiss yo’ mamma, yeah,
makes you want to kiss yo’ mamma, yeah.
There’s a way the home
of hucklebuck women
tip a hat to the side on their heads
and strut — all dressed up to kiss —
like queens of the ebony isles.
makes you want to kiss yo’ mamma, yeah,
makes you want to kiss yo’ mamma, yeah.
Works
Saloy, Mona Lisa. Red Beans and Ricely Yours: Poems. New Odyssey Series. Kirksville, MO: Truman State University Pr., 2005.
Saloy, Mona Lisa. Second Line Home: New Orleans Poems. New Odyssey Series. Kirksville, MO: Truman State University Pr., 2014.
Page prepared by:
- Bruce R. Magee