Commonplace poetry

This Is Not a Small Voice

BY SONIA SANCHEZ

This is not a small voice
you hear     this is a large
voice coming out of these cities.
This is the voice of LaTanya.
Kadesha. Shaniqua. This
is the voice of Antoine.
Darryl. Shaquille.
Running over waters
navigating the hallways
of our schools spilling out
on the corners of our cities and
no epitaphs spill out of

Forest of symbols

The ocean boils with fear

Love is a religion you learn alone

We need, in love, to practice only this:

letting each other go. For holding on

comes easily; we do not need to learn it.