see me

cocoa brown all a

round like the curves

the twist and turns of my coils

that you chastise and deem unfit

for the workplace

but really, any place that you are in

see me

standing tall and proud

in a crowd that thinks they know

what I’m about and what

I stand for

see me

putting love into a world

that has loved me

in the most toxic ways

without ever

seeing me

no time taken to

see me

hear me

feel me

you say my fears and my tears

are unwarranted

malicious intent is no stranger

to the smooth talker with

the underlying message

meant to condescend

me.

your talk is cheap

we both know if the opportunity

arose

you would not feel the same

stay in your own lane

this shit ain’t for the weak

and honestly,

you could never be me

black woman in america.