Black Girl Healing is a reader-supported publication. I appreciate you for being here to read and support my work as a writer. This newsletter requires much time and thought, so it is greatly appreciated when you subscribe.
Ancestors
Shift me,
move me,
restore me,
renew me
unearth me,
rebirth me,
revive me
then rest
and
just soothe me
lift me
guide me
learn me
chastise me
then mark me
as yours
so I can
become more
and say less,
stray less
crave less
this is my plea
say yes
the woman
that they never imagined
is knocking
on the door
a windstorm that
is rocking
us awake
seeking more
I am not humble
I will take
what I am owed
I will not cower
eyes affixed to the road
that leads to my freedom
everything I built
with me it comes
no guilt in knowing
that the only thing
cast aside
will be you
I bow down
to no one
anymore
years past
swept from the floor
I will both un-remember
and forget
the many times
you never met
me halfway
only your way
until I tore away
and still lived
to see victory
underneath the fray
There is no place
I will stay unwelcome
I will move to territories
unchartered
and you will reckon
with my absence
because
you lacked sense
and wisdom
now you can reign
with no subjects
in your crumbling kingdom
I am unburied,
a seed you thought
would never grow
standing tall
and unhurried
and unbothered
because the prideful
never take
what they are offered
and stay stunted
as the world passes by
and you stand there
still knowing nothing
We will not attach
to what suffocates us,
to what frustrates us,
to what dismisses and deflates us
to what disregards us
and devalues
to those who make promises
that never come true
we are enlightened
transformed into a new being
no longer willing
to tolerate your ignorance
and be made unclean
We are not here to
be your step stool
your laborers
the ones who saw how cruel
you were
yet still catered
to your requests and your demands
You are no longer welcome
at my table,
please stand
your lust of subjugation
your high off of hierarchy
you are not needed
authenticity has arrived
come in
please be seated
They say be productive
I refuse
I am a story
that needs space
and time,
you will never reduce
me
to exploiting my body
for this place
the whole world is mine
I am Black woman
the creator
love maker
rule breaker
world shaker
you will
never take her
down
Devoted to our mission.
Never faltering
we cling to our vision
women warning a world
that doubts them
women saving a world
that can’t move without them
“You are not a mistake. You are a miracle. Put together with the pieces of the universe only once, never again.”
- Alexis Pauline Gumbs
We are treasures
from the heavens,
moving among the resting
trying to awaken
those who still sleep
who are alive
but not living
those taught
that to survive
means never giving
She is ebullient
an unmatched sight
made of stars crashing
into the black expanse
A defiant light
She stands down to none
with her sisters
Rising together as one
We are indeed the sun's children
connected forever
It is impossible to look away,
yet you will never fully see us.
We will either be
a blessing witnessed or
wisdom denied
you choose
Look at what
you have made us carry
using our bodies as bridges
and mining our minds
for the future
you cannot imagine
yet we do not
harbor vengeance
not desire retribution
We only stand in remembrance
of the stories of survival
celebrating a new chapter
of dismantling and revival.
Leave us in our peace
knowing that we are
fully armed
with a legacy of warriors
surrounding us
you have been warned
God, our mercy is incomparable
Be glad
we
let
you
live.
If you enjoyed this post, please click on the heart at the bottom or the top of this email. It helps others discover Black Girl Healing. If you really liked this piece, consider restacking it or sharing it with a friend.
If you loved this piece, buy me a matcha tea latte to show your love- it is my guilty pleasure that keeps me going!
I always want to give special thanks to those of you who have chosen to become paid subscribers. Your continuous support is never taken for granted and is helping me on my journey to becoming a full-time writer. Please know I am extremely humbled and honored by your precious gift.
If anything in the piece resonated with you, please let me know in the comments. I would love to hear your feedback. It helps inspire my future writing. I can’t wait to hear from you!
💞
I read this three times. Beautiful. Thought-provoking!