amber flame
the ghost formerly known as Prince
has taken residence in my left knee
wants to twirl and do the splits
has me eyeing them cute heels
begs the feel of leather and lace
but he is a mere shade of himself
these days; can’t spectacle like
he’s used to - not with my knees.
my knees on some retirement shit
wanna cuddle up with Prince’s ghost
over some hot chocolate by a fire
reminisce about the good ol days
how we could run them courts
jump and dance like spring chickens
but this a ghost turn melancholy quick
groans as the joint pops and creaks
this a ghost want to forget about it,
the unbearable ache; this a specter
prefers fogged mirrors to old photos
says, it’s better to leave the past there.
says, whatever it takes to forget it.
has taken residence in my left knee
wants to twirl and do the splits
has me eyeing them cute heels
begs the feel of leather and lace
but he is a mere shade of himself
these days; can’t spectacle like
he’s used to - not with my knees.
my knees on some retirement shit
wanna cuddle up with Prince’s ghost
over some hot chocolate by a fire
reminisce about the good ol days
how we could run them courts
jump and dance like spring chickens
but this a ghost turn melancholy quick
groans as the joint pops and creaks
this a ghost want to forget about it,
the unbearable ache; this a specter
prefers fogged mirrors to old photos
says, it’s better to leave the past there.
says, whatever it takes to forget it.
Ghazal for the Abandoned Child
Or Prince Sings Funk for Seven and a Half Minutes
Sometimes
I feel
Like a motherless child
Sometimes
I feel
Like a
Motherless child
Will you funk me up some motherless child? You're so very special!
Show me the grief you so elegantly styled; you're so very special.
Tell me how she went away, while I dig that fat bass line
How she locked the door and you went completely wild; you're so very special.
Did it hurt to have your daddy's voice
See him in the mirror when you smiled? You're so very special.
Cause you're a creep, you don't belong here
Play-acting like you are so meek and mild, you're so very special.
You turned mother's eyes into seduction
Played daddy's music to keep them riled, you're so very special.
A kiss, a car, a hat, a horse,
You oozed sex and left us beguiled, you're so very special.
You knew we were special
Set us aflame while exiled, you're so very special.
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
You're so fucking special
You don't belong here
Or Prince Sings Funk for Seven and a Half Minutes
Sometimes
I feel
Like a motherless child
Sometimes
I feel
Like a
Motherless child
Will you funk me up some motherless child? You're so very special!
Show me the grief you so elegantly styled; you're so very special.
Tell me how she went away, while I dig that fat bass line
How she locked the door and you went completely wild; you're so very special.
Did it hurt to have your daddy's voice
See him in the mirror when you smiled? You're so very special.
Cause you're a creep, you don't belong here
Play-acting like you are so meek and mild, you're so very special.
You turned mother's eyes into seduction
Played daddy's music to keep them riled, you're so very special.
A kiss, a car, a hat, a horse,
You oozed sex and left us beguiled, you're so very special.
You knew we were special
Set us aflame while exiled, you're so very special.
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
You're so fucking special
You don't belong here
Amber Flame is an award-winning writer, performer, composer, activist and educator who works extensively with both youth and adults. Amber Flame’s work has garnered artistic merit residencies with Hedgebrook, The Watering Hole, Vermont Studio Center, and Yefe Nof. Flame’s writing has been published in diverse arenas, including Winter Tangerine, Nailed Magazine, City Arts Magazine, Mom Egg Review, The Dialogist, Split This Rock, Black Heart Magazine, Sundress Publications, FreezeRay, Redivider Journal and more. A 2016 & 2017 Pushcart Prize nominee, Jack Straw Writer Program, Artist Support Program, and New Media Gallerist, Flame was also a recipient of the CityArtist grant from Seattle's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs. Amber Flame's first full-length poetry collection, Ordinary Cruelty, was published through Write Bloody Press in 2017, with her second collection forthcoming from Red Hen Press. Flame served as the 2017-2019 poetry Writer-in-Residence for Hugo House in Seattle, and is a queer Black single mama just one magic trick away from growing her unicorn horn.