FOR BLACK WOMEN
Written by Itohan Omolere Osaigbovo Performed by Stephanie Berry
For Black women who wait for air’ s light kindness. For feels we are unheavy. For exhales the ease of the color purple.
Dancing with mountain toe secrets in fiery fields and Sunday pews. Dreaming of kings in Statesville. Sharing sorrows thick as banana pudding and that girl who loves him.
Moving out of state to escape the corner where discoloration carries the memory of blood covered sobs. From pavement to stairs. Tired of watching the porch.
For women who are girls given a woman’ s roleonly to turn a woman and still not be their own. For women who know no other way, or make one.
We don’ t hate you.
Our resentment will spread thin. Cook up different. It will taste like butter cake. It will inform our sympathy and saying.
All us women who never wanted the kitchen crown, but perfect every recipe we know. Watch the flavor rush it’ s way into the batter. We who make it right. And weep with a stone face staring.