POEM: LOCKS

photo by Alex Lear

 

 

locks

 

to shape the world is every man's desire

a drive that phallicly fashions the ultimate

tool of possession—i was fumbling to unlock 

the front door when i realized: these jingling 

surrogate penises were the keys guarding whatever 

material i have been taught to think i own

 

who constructed the first key? my mind flips: i remember

visiting tanzania, inside a traditional home

no lock no bars no closet no safe

and what about chastity belts?

 

i am amazed to realize how much of society

is based on the human body filtered through 

the gender bias of alpha males protecting

the ownership of what they claim is theirs

—kalamu ya salaam