some people
expect me to be
timid, passive,
soft or weak...
or worse

a weave-wearin (not dissin sistas who do), hoochie-mama-outfit-sportin-golddiggin-ghetto-fab-bling-bling-flashin-loud-talkin-hoodrat-ho-on-a-mission...

UH UH.

that aint where its at
for the woman i am
dig, i'mma sista
who keeps her **** real
i speak my mind
and what i feel
in yo face, ya heard?
i dont need
no extra hair
designer threads
fancy underwear
or
a jive-talkin
nicca wit a fat
wallet in his pocket
or a fat "rocket"
to define me...

when i look in the mirror
i see a Nubian Queen
Mother of Civilization
a descendant of African royalty...
Nefertiti
Cleopatra
Sheba
Nzingha
Yemaya
and Isis...

when i look in my mirror
i see in me
the "she-roes"
who paved the way
for other sistas like me...
Harriet Tubman
Sojourner Truth
Fannie Lou Hamer
Shirley Chisolm
Betty Shabazz
Coretta Scott King
Rosa Parks
and Sista Angela D...

i see in me
those Soul Sistas
of verse and song...
Sonia Sanchez
Maya Angelou
Nikki Giovanni
Gwendolyn B
Odetta
Nina Simone
Aretha
Miriam Makeba
Erykah B
Lauryn Hill
Jill Scott
Angie Stone
and India Arie
sistas who
tell it like it is
that it's about
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
cuz everything is everything
and that it's alright
for a sista to do it for herself
that it's alright
to be young, gifted and BLACK
hey didntcha know, didntcha know
my black brotha, strong brotha
that it's shonuff alright
to take
a long walk with me
long as we walk side by side
in love, peace
unity and harmony
and it's quite alright
to love me
a Phenomenal BLACK WOMAN
unconditionally
because i am
a Queen...

this is why defines
the woman i am
can you dig it?
right on.........


(c)2001 SoulPoetess
All rights reserved by Author.