Liquirizia*

        Tell me     Grandfather
did you ever
        try
 to scrub out
your dark
                   Mediterranean
  skin
          your Camels
original     Napolitano
     tongue
         at home
at night
while your family
 slept
       did you
          spiral and spiral
                        about tomorrow
like I do
           you    tailoring
  for Louisville’s
    white Southerners
                                and I
white
              white
          trying
to unwind
    the fire    white
devils
            who snake
   into our brains
                     from the time
      we can see
                    we can hear
we can
                  taste
    taste
                this licorice spice
 of privilege
                                 and have no idea.