Every Black Circle is Food For an Avalanche

by Durell Carter

We,
black boys, formed a circle
in the school courtyard
and danced
to ringtones,
to the beatboxing boy from science class,
to our chants of encouragement emanating
from our black boy joy,
to the sun shine
that shimmied
God’s glow
on us,

and they hated it.

The assistant principal–
our first avalanche,
forbade us
from dancing,
from forming circles,
from laughing too loud,
from enjoying being alive around white people,
from being reminders

that they had to see us.

So as a teacher,
when I see black boys eat
their own sunlight while
performing silence

I already know
that they’ve been introduced
to the same tundra and
heavy blue waves that
ringworm
the skin
of zero weather

and I pray
they have a sanctuary
to form a circle
and remind their brother
that we are alive
to let our bodies
feel the rhythm
of everything gold
inside of us.

And I pray, that
someday, a
Black Circle

is just another sign
of peace.

---

Durell Carter is a writer and teacher based in Oklahoma, where he shares his passion for literature with his students. He holds a Master's degree in Literature from the University of Central Oklahoma. In 2023, he released his first book, Mr. Monday Morning's Broken Songs and Testimonies. He has work published in Rawhead Journal, Wild Roof Journal, Posit Journal, Rising Phoenix Review, and others. Instagram: @durell.carter