A letter to...

I hope you continue to feel safe and loved in my arms

You raised me

Fed me

Shown me —

Love and compassion 

And I’ll always cherish your protection

From the gibberish of a child  that is still learning to articulate himself 

You listened to me

My first teachers

I walked and sprinted to your arms

Healed me every time I scraped my knee

From broken hearts and bruised egos 

Black women have never left my side

If I bent the knee in-front of yours

Would you question the gesture

You waited 

while i dated

I pained you

And you still said i love you

I overlooked you

Yet you still looked for me

I promise to love and cherish ‘till death do us part

I will continue to prove what’s in my heart

These vows shall attest my love

 My actions shall express everything you are fond of

Black women have never left my side

You understand the complexity 

Of what it means to be apart of humanity

And yet

You never let yourself forget

I too, deserved understanding 

From our tough upbringing 

You checked me

And never allowed me to falter

You had life harder

But you made sure my needs came fore

I demanded far more than I could give

But you never even thought to leave

I vow to walk you down the aisle

I will be there to move the dial 

Even in his absence, my presence in your life shall remain 

Black women have never left my side

I’ve always wanted a mini me

That I can groom surely 

To be better

And go further 

I will love you even if you happen to be more like your mother

To show you how you should be treated

Nothing in this world should have you heated

From sexism, inequality, racism, misogyny 

You will walk through this world as God had foreseen 

Free from what have been

I hope you continue to feel safe and loved in my arms