You Straight?

“The pressure on your shoulders feel like boulders
When you gotta make sure that everybody straight.” -Cardi B

Hail from the Peach State
Hospitality’s innate
I’m always gonna make sure everybody is straight
Just confused about my hunger
‘Cause I got a full plate
Giving more but feeling lesser
That shit don’t equate

Adverse to the narrow and straight
Wide is my gait
Thick thighs and my Daddy’s shoulders
I walk supporting the weight
Of past, present, and future tense
Tense and in a stupor since
I’ve convinced
Myself
This load is my fate
And with it, I’m gonna always be straight
Sometimes I lie

Strong Black Woman guides
And plantation survivor lives
Got me feeling like I gotta do more
For theirs, mine and yours
Kin, friends, cousins, and ’em
She, they, and him
Know I ain’t a lightweight
And, for sure, ain’t nobody’s playmate
I’m gonna work hard so we can all be straight

Truth be told
I’m tired of the bill of goods I was sold
Why are everybody’s problems
For me to have and to hold
Don’t mind lending a hand
But hate being controlled
Pigeonholed
As one who meets all needs untold

At any rate,
I just wanna plant seeds
And watch them germinate
Watch the bees pollinate
Read books that fascinate
Meditate
And hydrate
Liberate
Rejuvenate
Stop shouldering so much weight
Then I’ll be straight

Categories: : Writing