I like men who impress me Lots of women like them I am sacrificial in what I want Forthright in what I need I like only him He is egotistical He has power by way of his intelligence or pursuit Lots of women like him He likes lots of women He does not know how to be a man and be with me. Poems for 72 Days, Poem 11 Inspired by Warsan Shire - Excuses For Why We Failed at Love
A couple of ideas/ readings/thoughts driving this poem: 1. I often reflect on Gabrielle Union's letter to herself in the October Issue (2012) of Essence Magazine in which she writes to her younger self/ other women about loving her "deep Mahogany skin" and generally, colorism in the Black community and in Hollywood. Everytime I post A Letter from the Young, I think of it. 2. I just read this article on BBC about colorism in Africa: Africa: Where black is not really beautiful . My problem with the general debate on colorism in Africa, which I have heard many others echo, is with this notion that women and men who bleach their skins are more insecure, less conscious, have more self esteem issues, and/or are more susceptible to subscribing to the "white supremacist mentality" than the rest of us. In some circles, they are even vilified. I truly believe that this is unfair. Firstly, saying that African women/men who bleach their skin do not love being Black or...
A call from many a women to their mothers To healing, to forgiveness; how to not be a “tragedy of your experiences”; how to get it back I am here tomorrow, gone today I am equal, yet still not free I left in search of more though much is here I am in a garden of spirits In need of the art your work makes, as is my fate Last I remember my soul was being hauled into a grand hall A dilemma not to be shared, I revealed without much thought Months later, as though you knew, I would fall So much is here but I have left in search of more My heart yearns for that one missed call Mother I write only what I recall When he beat you, slapped you, cursed your ways, your taste, and the food you make, you got on your knees and crawled He would sleep with other women, use your money, drink his tail ends off, and you surprisingly kept true to yours I watched, they watched, and as he got more possessive, with time you fought Eventually after many near attempts of...
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