to find myself. I come from deep issues
and shallow solutions.
I come from a limited vocabulary
but an unrestricted imagination.
I come from a decent education
and a marvelous mother.
I come from being given permission
to dream but choosing to wake up
instead. I come from wherever I lay
my head. I come from unanswered
questions and unread books, unnoticed
effort and undelivered apologies
and thanks. I come from who I trust
and who I have left.
I come from last year and last year
and I don’t notice how I’ve changed.
I come from looking in the mirror
and looking online to find myself.
I come from stories, myths, legends,
and folktales. I come from lullabies
and pop songs, hip-hop and poetry.
I come from griots, grandmothers,
and herstory tellers. I come from
published words and strangers’ smiles.
I come from my own pen but I see
people torn apart like paper, each a story
or poem that never made it into a book.
After the open mic,
I’m talking to this couple.
Simon is white;
