When the Sun Goes Down
Nighttime in Mississippi Where Bessie’s Café is live, we dance, juke, and jive, but the streetlights come on. Mama calls us in before we sneak to sin. As we walk in, the screen door squeaks. Granny starts praying ending today’s playing When the sun goes down… Mangy dogs howl. Papa yells, drinks liquor and then his lighter flickers. The smell of sweet cornbread in the kitchen. Dinner is prepared and set while we wash away sweat. Our sheets are pulled back. We drift off to sleep and Mama kisses our cheeks. When the sun goes down.
Tomia Jones is a junior at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, pursuing a degree in Creative Writing. Her writing has appeared in the Mississippi Poetry Society. She enjoys reading mystery novels, spending time with family, and finding new writing topics. Her academic research is focused on poetry and creative nonfiction. Her writing is inspired by everyone she loves and holds dear to her heart.
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