Who will be the next

Countee Cullen?

Jean Toomer?

Langston Hughes?

Who will give their own answer

to the question of a dream deferred?

Amanda Gorman?

Who will know how to brave the current

of the current deep river?

Who will have the faith to lead the wanderers

to the next distant shore?

Who will sing the new songs,

be the next folk-tale-telling Uncle

for all those patient brothers and sisters

sitting on those pine-wood-pews

in the that little brown church in the wildwood,

waiting to steal away home?

Will it be Izzie?

TMI?

Sparks?

Will it be JZ?

Or some golden gangster?

Or,

(Great God Almighty! Forbid!)

Eminem?

They are all joined at the root.

Who, now,

will flower?