Sonnet of Goodbye

Reneé Salandy

source: Jared Bennet, WFPL

against the backdrop of a cradled moon
footprints across the sky—they gone too soon
and galaxies like shutters from within
eclipse the earth and block the devil’s sin

what happens to black souls after the day?
botham, atatiana, freddie gray
philando must’ve greeted them with food
known as one to be far more kind than rude

and what about the recent black man slayed
or woman, can’t remember every day
next time it could be me in this dark skin
can’t trust the police—devils with a grin

goodbye with every being of my soul
goodbye to you who never could grow old

Born in East Texas, Reneé Salandy infuses her Trinidadian heritage with southern twang to discuss how cultural norms define freedom. She’s a Financial Analyst who writes from her residence in the Bronx, where she received a 2019 BRIO Award for Poetry. Her musical upbringing influences her lyrical writing sound as literature provides the opportunity for her to elaborate specifics, blend genres and appeal to the senses using imagery.

Reneé Salandy uses an autobiographical approach to storytelling to collide new subjects with the old. She hopes her writing contributes to world literature and influences others to maintain history through folklore. @Reneeafricanqueen