Rudyard Kipling

If inferno flames are melting your spirit.
Causing gapping wounds of disappointments developing infections.
Pus oozing oppression, odor of deception.
Swathed in agony dressings. If you’ve been cloaked in sheets bearing the logo of minority
While walking in the majority
Ear marked with inferior wages projected for projects,
brainwashed into thinking we’re self sufficient.
Stamped on food allotment threatened with starvation with every election. If you can hold the cold hand of your child.
Wrap satin royalties across his chest, tucking in his future.
Line him in crushed velvet for a comfortable home going.
Watching faith fade.
Managing to lift your head high push shoulders back to face the hate that took him away.
If your idea of protect and serve rings true only if you believe in amendment #2, that phrase has never applied to you. If you watch 365 days of American History and only 28 days of your own, told to let it ago as you watch the new age lynchings. Slavery in the form of prison sentences. History on repeat yet remixed. If you watch video vixens, half dressed twerk videos become the image of you.
Your natural full lips, thick hips, round ass become the joke in one era and the plastic surgery rave yet on you he finds fault. If your humble disposition has you in a silent rage but they wouldn’t know it looking you in the face.
Humbled by grace.
Then you know what it is to be a black woman in America.
(This isn’t finished)