The first death comes by
bullet. The second, when they’ve 
forgotten your name. 


for the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina

Susie Jackson and
Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd
and Ethel Lee Lance.

Names that sound like my 
nana’s friends. Can’t you hear them
whisper Hush, chile. Hush.  



Miriam Carey. 
Shelley Frey. Aiyana Jones.
Rekia Boyd. Pick

a name you didn’t 
know. Carry it with you. Bear
the weight of her loss.



For Black Transwomen Murdered in the United States

When they hunt you with 
abandon and misname you 
while mourning, my own 

fragile freedom is 
hollowed. Wilted. Now, I will 
call you queen, call you

cousin, homegirl or 
sister-friend. I will conjure
your grace in poems.


I will weave your names
into prayer: Elisha
Walker, Shade Schuler



Keyonna Blakeney
Veronica Banks Cano
Kendarie Johnson

India Monroe
Jazz Alford, Goddess Diamond
and Rae’Lynn Thomas

Ashton O’Hara
Dee Whigham, Deeniquia Dodds
and Papi Edwards

Brandi Bledsoe, Bri
Golec, Kristina Gomez-
Reinwald, Maya Young

London Chanel, Skye
Mackabee, Keisha Blidge
and Jasmine Collins