nayyirah waheed

knowing your worth

can save your life

you.

not wanting me.

was

the beginning of me

wanting myself.

thank you.

to not be safe on the earth.

simply

because

of the color of your skin.

how does a being survive this.

was

i

who held you

when

you

wanted

someone else.

–– treason

mothers are humans. who

sometimes give birth to their pain. instead of children.

i knew you

before

i met you.

i’ve known you my whole life.

–– nafsi

she asked

‘you are in love

what does love look like’

to which i replied

‘like everything i’ve ever lost

come back to me.’

i am a child of three countries.

the water.

the heat.

the words.

i lost a whole continent.

a whole continent from my memory.

unlike all other hyphenated americans

my hyphen is made of blood. feces. bone.

when africa says hello

my mouth is a heartbreak

because i have nothing in my tongue

to answer her.

i do not know how to say hello to my mother.

–– african american ii

your skin

smells

like light.

i think you are

the

moon.