Words

by Dainon Moody

Words waving through

screen doors and past

country’s boundaries,

finding the Philippines

in California, seeing

missing teeth and words

that find my smile.

Words that sounded

foreign before, when I

chewed on my tongue

and wrote down run ons,

struggling as a shadow

and ears for eight months.

Words I only wait

to use, humor that

I’ve learned and love,

remain in my mouth

so long they get rusty.

Words break boundaries

and I’m equipped with

a chisel.