Nikki Giovanni Beats Elon Musk to Mars

Grandmother's soft ginger

cookies with a hint of red

a tint of fire like Mars from

Nikki's dreams that taste

of sugar

of spice

of an independence.

Made by women on a planet called

After War

& Before Men.

She walks there now leaving

footprints for freedom

of life lived beyond

in the eternal summer garden

of fresh corn

of okra

of greens.

Nikki never quit & never apologized

too bad Elon there is no ticket on this

party bus for you & no hand of bid

whist at the table.

My own dreams are full of mars

an escape from this troubled earth

of prison walls

of razor wire

of stalking fear.

Nikki send me a ticket

I baked your favorite cookies.