My Mother’s Greens — A Foodways Poem by Christopher D. Sims

My mother’s greens
are soulful songs,
sonnets, a promise
to future generations
who need nutrition,
nurturing, listening,
empowerment.

My mother’s greens
have raised generations;
have impacted lonely lives
who did not have food
or love to go home to.

My mother’s greens were impactful
heavily on the west side of Rockford, IL;
were widely sought after during west side
cookouts and holiday celebrations
where you could find my elders sharing
stories about Nevada County Arkansas, the
“Good old days” and at locales where
we sought Jesus, fellowshipped, prayed.

My mother’s greens were famous when
my big sisters and brothers played music
full of soul, grit, and stories in parking lots
in Fairgrounds Housing Development.

We ate my mother’s greens while listening
to the Gap Band’s “More Bounce To The Once”
to Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” to Mtume’’s
“Juicy Fruit” to The Temptation’s “Papa Was A
Rollin’ Stone to Chaka Khan’s “I Feel You.”

My mother’s greens
are a guitar strum,
a sad man’s hum,
African drums
thumping,
pumping,
pulsating!

My mother’s greens
are magical. The voodoo
in her fingers are from
Bluff City, Arkansas where
images and stories of my
great grandpa
are threaded into
our conversations
after dinnertime.

My mother’s greens are
grooves, electric, symphonic,
bionic — a tonic for healing.

When she cooks them she’s
revealing the excellence
of Black cooking.

My mother’s greens are
Black love, is Black genius,
is a Black phenomenon, is
Black strength, emotion,
drive, dedication, commitment,
continuous,

is of the mother continent,
is savvy, is beautiful,

is beyond what you find in
easily digestible American cookbooks
that lack a people’s story.

My mother’s greens have
welcomed nephews home
from jail and prison sentences,
have welcomed back home family
who left for other cities or opportunities.

My mother’s greens have welcomed
back kin who are estranged Illinoisans
Who haven’t lived in Rockford
for years.

My mother’s greens greeted me
after basketball practice and football
games, welcomed me home when
my twin and I had long nights hanging
with friends, my mother’s greens are
the essence of us Sims.

My mother’s greens raised me,
gave me all of what I have needed
to become me, to be me.

And for her greens, and for what
she means to me; I am so grateful.