Go by Lizz Straight

woman be too black to be woman.

am I beauty?

Built like a stallion to tame?

— confrontational cloud on a calm corporate horizon?

am I bruise? am I stain?

or magic marketing muse, gold teeth, tattoos– is this freedom fetish?

a rare find to fondle?

a swan to seize collective desire?

earthen element brown indelicate

intelligent to a certain degree.

am I worthless on cardstock?

am I slick talk drawl speak switched code conflicting culture shock? am I white talk in beyonce body-ody-ody– am I de’ sanctified?

do I fill your eyes?

Am I coveted prize?

can I be recognized?

what about with braids?

am I paid fairly?

Barely?

I think therefore I threat? Bet.

am I ready?

am I set…?

(c) 2024