Sisterhood

Dear Black girl,

your symphony unfolds into me, never let me go

I hear your song

in the hectic of the day and the quiet of the night, in the middle of nowhere, near and far — out of sight, we are interconnected like the rhythm that sways through the notes on a song sheet

play it again sister, I’ll dance to your heartbeats like I dance to a drum, beneath the sky light — you listen as I hum

you’re not alone, I am a movement for the defence of your every bone

in the sound of every syllable of your name, our patterns, all our colours, through our every shade — our songs play every note, I hear them all — even when they get stuck in our throats

you and I — we are daughters of Eve and African Queens, the embodiment of Amina, Yaa Asantewa, Makeda and Nefertiti

carrying the weight of the world on your back, your hip bone, your shoulders, your head, the burden of promise of a new world from this old world — resting in your womb

you are water — soft and strong, you’ve fully got this love, you’re so far from hopeless, like the phoenix making new beginnings right at the end

when you shed tears, we all cry oceans of Black waves — drowning our sorrows until it’s alright again

sweet sister, daughter, friend, let me braid sunflowers through your hair, watch your garden grow like spring time, as you breathe in more life and more life — and I rock you in my arms tonight

you’re warrior ready because now is always the time, but rest awhile, let a songbird choir — sing you a score, so you can forget this world and all of its wars

when you’re chasing peace — don’t outrun your freedom, never forget — your spirit has wings

rest awhile — rest, rest awhile — rest

don’t let this living — make you lose your last breath

Dear Black girl, child of the sun, let your tribe circle around you in a loving shield of embrace — filled with loyalty and protection like the beloved warriors of the Dora Milaje

we’ve got this shift, we’ve got your back, your front, your left and right

this is us, your truth matters, the Universe said so when it birthed you here, this whole Earth is where you belong — let’s wander everywhere

somewhere in your memory, remember you are poetry — and let it season your tongue when you speak, let it glisten along your lips, tingle in your fingertips and remind you to pick up your light — if it falls to the floor

Dearest sister, daughter, friend, you stay always on my mind, lean into me — nestle into my skin, let me blanket you with the armour of more melanin

your enemies keep trying to cut you down like machetes to blades of grass, with a marinade of more than bitter spite — they try to feast on your words each night, but they won’t win, your soul is not for sale — unbreakable, your quest carries on — unstoppable, they’ll choke on all of the hope you give

there’s nothing like distance or time between us, over a thousand years — across seven seas, your spirit resides — right here next to me

soul sister number one — you’re one in a billion, a light beam — a gift like the sun

I see myself in your image, sometimes a quiet snowy day, hazy sunshine — shining through rain, a rainbow, a wildfire, you’re the scent of woman — some kind of fusion of smoke and light and chocolate and blackberries and red and gold and green, Chanel would struggle to capture the essence of you and me

you give meaning to my Black thoughts — Black feelings — our super, Black love

when your mind is willing but your body is weary, rest awhile — rest, rest awhile — rest

we can begin again early in the morning, bathed in sunlight, ready once more — to face the unknown of another day

I feel you, I hear every note of your song

your symphony unfolds into me, never let me go
your symphony unfolds into me, never let me go