How do I put pen to paper after Maya Angelou, Toni Morrision, Octavia. E. Butler, Zora Neal Hurston
The struggle speaking all our truths in black and white
I am bound by their majesty, their mightiness of pen
I am sucking on tobacco knowing you give me life
I am sodden in poverty
Surrounded by bills
Broken floors
Feet that pain from my low end job
My back is strong in whimsical moments when I am as great as you
Not just a mocking bird
How I fly then amongst the clouds
Wind tassling tangeled afro and brown skin smiling with health
Growth of hand reaching, believeing
I am the cloud, the shadow and earth beneath me
WIth these blessings so efferfescent and fresh in my mind
As if your streets were the ones I left to be bound by my wonder and glimpse into hopelessness
Became mine to own after being a queen on throne
Fell from the skies of mighty wealth built with stealth, experience and savvy destroyed by one emotion loneliness
This lonely girl splashed away hiding pain
In fear that no hustle will develop again
Can you smell my despair
Not when I'm cloud walking my darling
Not then.