I don’t
want to stand out
because I’m black
but I want to belong
in color
I don’t know what it means
to me
to be a coal
fractal, soul
full of sunlight
fists in air, but
it’s too much pressure
to be the only gate you have
into these prism-prisons
you call ethnicities
I guess it’s fair
brown skin, and untamable hair
not a magnet for moisture
but I can bear it
the weight of
misunderstanding falls on
all who wish to take
up
space
Black is hungry
solitude gives no solace
In our slumber we
call out for the dark side
of the moon – and deep
berries, Miles Davis, Nina Simone
to bury in our bellies and
Roll out of bed
still free
But empty
I don’t
want to stand in
your way of painting
your face but, it’s your big
pink eraser
I fear, I’ve lost
touch with
the culture
my ancestors － part
blue-collars, black-necks,
white-teeth, red-flecks,
soft heart, loud rhyme,
join the army, the navy, or do
Time
is
up
To take up space is
it really enough
How many sides are
there in this war
with the past; I’m tired of
protest songs, they keep
telling me what to do
