The steamed breath Against my forehead, It warms, and soothes My mind, I am at ease. I feel his embrace Tighter with each breath, Drawing me closer to him, To my roots. He braids my hair, And cradles me When I cry, I am loved. He is my protector My rock When I am scared, I am safe. He lays me down, And sings me lullabies' Till I dream of the sun, I am cherished. In her soft arms I find solace, The one who birthed me, Nurtured me. I feel her everlasting glow Like an ange

Formed from the ashes Dust and clay Modelled into essence As alive as day. In our first breaths Lay the unison of life, The gift of grace, And blessings bestowed by the sun. The same light That nurtured us, Fed our melanin, And dawned onto us, a new age. We bathe in her embers O mother! To whom we praise for this black skin, This eternal treasure. We do not falter In our excellence, Our exuberance, Our beliefs. From time, You have looked down on us, Suppressed our culture,

The planes of foreign fields Guide my path Where I am free to roam The endless world of thoughts. As the tips of my fingers Graze the greens of the earth, So does my soul Grasp the essence of my being. With the moons withdrawal And the suns proclamation, The stars never seem To lose their way. In my mind A third eye, Open to the wonders Of my predecessors. Time remains, breathless Fluid in its motion, It pays no heed To us living beneath its wings. And whence the night doth

You haunt me With your disdainful presence, Your narcissistic ruse, Your coercive endeavours. From our first encounters I learnt your truths, Lies you hide, The mysterious intent I am brazen yet starstruck, Confused yet alluded You want me to heal But hold the very chains, The very same whips Keeping me on the edge. Time, and time again, You strike subliminally, With your words, Your actions. I fall apart Each time I see these scars, Etched and carved Into my body, my so

Wake me up When morning comes, And I draw breath In excess. The cries of the hummingbirds Gliding through the morning sky, The whispers of the wind Through the crevices of my soul. Dawn breaks, And the suns majestic flames Thread the distance On its canvas, the earth. I watch closely, With my eyes Bundled up in awe, In solitude, in peace. I see the ocean in the distance; Listen, to the waves as they break land, Aggressive in their wake, Calm in their recourse. Oh to be a f