Francisco has created his own words for the things we cannot give name to. I'll Fly Away uses Francisco's invented lexicon as the palette to paint an intimate portrait of black life in America- one that praises joy and grace without shying away from the hard truths confronting all of us today.

Includes index.

Mama Saba asks --This is how I scare the dirt -- Legend has it -- And maybe we all know a "Ricky" -- What I know is this -- My parents -- Divorce is a stubborn grease fire -- Love can be a reckless child -- Perhaps I told you I was leaving -- I'll fly away (erasure) -- The poem where I lie about everything -- Most of what I know -- Sometimes I'm the mess -- Drowning fish -- Afterwards -- 2009 (erasure) -- Here I am today -- I wish you a checkered flag -- I once held on to a grudge -- I want the kind of happiness -- There are people -- Ode to the block button -- Have you ever noticed -- Throughout most of my childhood -- Seventeen -- Perfect (erasure) -- You are a strange kind of beautiful -- How -- If you find yourself -- When you walk into the room -- I hope the camera gods bless you with a steady hand -- A lot like you -- Golden Girls these song (erasure) -- Miranda Rights (erasure) -- It is the year 2036 -- Speak -- NRA statement on Texas, Ohio tragedies -- NRA statement on Texas, Ohio tragedies (erasure) -- Click -- Climate change -- I watched the viral video of the police officer -- Alternate endings for the black movies that I can't stop watching -- When they say he is black -- Instructions for black people -- To the black Donald Trump supporters -- Let's just say -- I remember when this neighborhood was an orchard -- The youth choir sings "I believe I can fly" -- The peace lily -- Family Matters theme song (erasure) -- Dear PTSD -- Whoever said a choir -- Lasalle -- It usually happens -- Uwani -- The women in my family never use measuring cups -- Isn't she lovely (erasure) -- Unsolicited advice -- I say black fatherhood -- Zoey -- and the morning shows up.