dear mother,
sweet mother,

i learned from you
the heaviest trick
of a black woman’s
life: how to be too many
things and be unbreakable

dear mother,
sweet mother,

i will practice and perform
with my life
to give you the rest
of yours you deserve
the one you solely
and rightfully own

i will give you
the way to live yours
my audience will be yours- and you
your magic will flow through me
and get caught in my coily hair
so that i may comb it out
and let its residue sit on my hands
and know that every line on my palms,
although you remain in the crowd,
was touched by you and
every line on my page was scribed
with your mysteries
and my pen will be glad
to bear the weight that you have