North Carolina: Jaki Shelton Green

Jaki Shelton Green is the Poet Laureate of North Carolina, serving since 2018.

Photo: Samantha Everette

i know the grandmother one had hands

i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always in bowls
folding, pinching, rolling the dough
making the bread
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always under water
sifting rice
bluing clothes
starching lives
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always in the earth
planting seeds
removing weeds
growing knives
burying sons
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always under
the cloth
pushing it along
helping it birth into
skirt
dress
curtains to lock out
night
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always inside
the hair
parting
plaiting
twisting it into rainbows
i know the grandmother one had hands 
but they were always inside 
pockets 
holding the knots
counting the twisted veins
holding onto herself
let her hands disappear
into sky
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always inside the clouds
poking holes for 
the rain to fall.

Courtesy of Jaki Shelton Green.

Featured Sound:

"Photo Frames" | Biddy Sullivan | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
"View from an Ocean Window" | Staffan Carlén | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
"Blue" | Shinji Wakasa | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
"Our New Place" | Sindrandi | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
"Induction of Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green" | N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources | youtube.com/watch?v=T5etw2sgM_I
Sound Effects | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com