African Voices Spring 2020 AVSPRING2020 | Page 16

NTOZAKE SHANGE
SHE WAS A WORD WARRIOR
STANDING STRONG IN HER CHARIOT
READY TO BATTLE
FOR THOSE WOMEN
WHO ACCEPTED DEFEAT
SHE NOW RIDES ON A SUNBEAM
TO JOIN THE ANCESTORS
HER WORK IS DONE HERE
SHE FULFILLED HER MISSION
SHE CREATED A TIDAL WAVE
THAT ROCKED THE FOUNDATION
OF OLD SCHOOL LOVE
SHE BECAME THE VOICE
THAT LASHED OUT AT THE NIGGER
THAT LIVED IN THE HEART AND MIND
OF MANY MEN
WHO SEE BEAUTY
AS A WEAKNESS
WOMEN AS SLAVES
SHE ENGAGED IN THE BATTLEFIELDS OF UGLY
REVEALED HER SCARS AND WOUNDS IN POETRY
SHE EXPOSED THE RAINBOW
AND MANY SISTERS SHOWERED HER
WITH TEARS OF THANKS
EXALTED HER WITH THE PAIN
OF AN EXPERIENCE
FROM MAKING A BAD CHOICE
NTOZAKE WAS A FIGHTER
REFUSED TO BE DEFEATED
BECAME A VICTIM
OF UNLOVING HERSELF
IN A WORLD
WHERE LOVE IS THE ONLY HEALER WE’VE KNOWN
HER PEN BECAME A DAGGER
THAT SHE WOULD PLUNGE
INTO THE HEART OF WOULD BE LOVERS
WHO NEVER KNEW HOW TO LOVE HER
THE RIGHT WAY
SHE WAS APPLAUDED AND PRAISED
FOR UNVEILING THE SILENT SUFFERING
TO SPARK A DIALOGUE
TO ALLOW LOVE TO LIVE
SHE WAS A FIERCE WARRIOR
WHO FORGED A PATH
FOR US TO SEE OURSELVES
AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW
THERE IS A POT OF GOLD
© 2018 Abiodun Oyewole. Read Abiodun’s full tribute at www.africanvoices.com
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