As a child i used to feel scared of the dark
I couldn't even bear a moment of it
But then as i started growing up
I realized that the best way to get over my fear of it was to embrace it
Make it a part of me
Treat it as a friend instead of a stranger
And i did that
And now i kinda' enjoy the dark
The night just feels more comforting to me
It's like in the dark of the night
My soul feels safer
And less exposed
And i'm able to express myself better

Spending time with you
No matter how little it maybe
Is worth it
'Coz when i'm with you
Every single second i feel stronger
Happier
And more positive than i've ever felt before
I don't know what it is about you
But you just seem to radiate so much positive energy and goodness
It's like you were born to inspire people and spread happiness
Your words
Your thoughts
Your beauty
Your charm
Your grace
Your simplicity
Your humility
They all just ******* away
I feel so safe with you
I can talk to you about anything without being judged
You understand me better than anyone else
I love listening to you
I love talking to you
I love kissing you
I love inhaling your scent
I love holding you in my arms
You truly are a very special person in my life
And i feel fortunate and blessed to have someone like you in my life

• because I was questioned for calling Beyoncé a god
• because I was told Beyoncé is overrated
• because some white lady I don’t know touched my hair before she               learned my name at my place of work
• because one of my white friends made a joke about crack houses when we were watching fake anime and eating fried dough…in addition to making that joke, he made me uncomfortable
• because a white friend of mine agreed with someone who said cis white men are the most oppressed group on my campus
• because people still tell me “ALL Lives Matter” and ask me “why isn’t there a WHITE History Month”
• because “I don’t see color” is a “less racist” way of saying “that isn’t my problem, so I don’t have to get involved”
• because girls “like me” are fetishized
• because girls “like me” are seen as the **** of jokes or just the ****
• because I’m the only non-white passing person of color in my dominant friend group
• because #Lightskinned is still a way to humiliate someone for being fairer skinned and having feelings
• because #Darkskinned is still a way to demean someone who is darker than you and painting them as “*****”
• because colorism exists in every racial group, but no one wants to talk about it
• because someone argued why a white person should be able to wear dreads and black people are kicked out of institutions for wearing the exact same hairstyle
• because black on black crime is still used as some sort of crevice you try to shimmy yourself through
• because somewhere, a white girl is teaching tutorials on how anyone can have an afro, and no one is stopping her
• because Facebook exploded when I expressed that I want to be respected
• because everybody wanna be a *****, but no one wanna be a *****
• because I didn’t know what to say until I couldn’t stop speaking
• because we are twenty days into February and Black History Month hasn’t been mentioned by ONE of my professors
• because of ******* course I’m the angry black woman
• because I’m essentially the backbone, which means that it’s easy for me to break, right?
• because this **** happens to me every **** day of my life and it will continue to happen to me every **** day of my life
• because you made it that way
• this poem does not have an ending
• this poem is the abyss
• why do I make it about race?
• because this poem can go on and on and on forever
• and I’ll still be talking about the same thing


**~~a.s.f.

A bad case of love destroys you in ways much worse than hate ever does
For hate merely hurts you
You can still bear it and accept it
But a bad experience in love severely damages your heart's ability to love again
And most importantly it becomes that much harder for you to trust someone after that shattering experience

But if you leave, promise me this
Promise me you'll find someone who
Can't wait to hear about the crazy
Dreams you had the night before
Someone who knows about the
Whale birthmark on your thigh
Someone who thinks your laugh
Is the only sunshine they'll need
And your eyes are the only stars
They want to look into at night
Someone who gets giddy when
They think about holding your hand
Find someone who knows the places
Your hands have been and appreciates
their strength they hold despite it all
Someone who understands
Your banter and feistiness
Find someone who loves you for
Who you are not what you have
Overall, if you decide to leave
I hope you find someone
Who can love you in all the ways
I couldn't

I told her there was very little of me left to love,
and with glassy blue-green eyes she replied
*There is enough

You are only lovely when I allow it:
When I let you out to trace the times
Your perfect puzzle-piece body
Sat home with mine;
Quiet hands on your chest
And on your stomach,
Breathing closer;
Holding tighter to muffle
The 'nails in skin'
Sort of **** that was
Held at a distance

You are only lovely when I allow it:
When I let you out to suffer the nights
You were left alone with my mood

You are only lovely when I allow it:
When I let you out to worry
As you hold together -
I sink into my crawl space
Pushing the rubble to the top

You are only lovely when I allow it:
When I let you out to relive and to relove
The way I should have

I haven't seen angels
But i have seen mothers
Selflessly
Tirelessly
They go about their daily routine
And quite often don't get the appreciation and respect they deserve
The sacrifices they make is unimaginable
Words are not enough to express gratitude to mothers all around
Even managing a country is easier than managing a home