imagine me as i am
fiercely beautiful
a black and white
negative growing in
the shade of contempt
like a desert rose
fragrant in the funk of it
unbowed refusing to be
broken being everything
else and then some more
because tallness is required here
i got wings
flying over the pits snares traps sticky shit
don’t stick i write me clearly black lines
on a white page a force
you can’t never did never will own
beautifully unruly
a poor subject for oppression
you prayed to me
as you preyed on me
Hottentot
i will out live it
i will outlive you
fed by dreams of slaves
you did not free
i will live
in the leanest prayer of tomorrow
fed well on determination
i am
the alpha hailing omega
a breathtaking contradiction
only going forward
connected to the ocean
like it birthed me
it did
whispers to me tales
of glory shadowed by infamy
Norf Merikan Afrikan
Olukun holds my keys
you can’t touch me
you only know the myth you created of me
imagine me as i am
i burn like fire
you will remember we
crossed paths i am the taste
in your mouth that reminds you
of who you are
where you walked
who you pushed into the darkness
of inhumanity
you don’t define me
you can not
i am a song you can’t sing
a dance you have no steps for
a sublime verse in a language
you don’t speak
imagine me as i am
the black and white of
where we are
understand clearly
the ocean has a memory
the dust has a memory
i have a memory
remember that when
you imagine me