By Olumide Popoola. Painting by Nathan Majola

when to drown or drop
all that stands in-between
wounded fearing holding
you away from me?

we do not believe in tough love
that disguises
hurting more
just to prove a point

for wild black girls who
are determined to live

trying to make your desires
irresistible to others
(Audre Lorde)

we ache and embrace
our vulnerabilities
to be vulnerable a vision
hard fought for
in a world of endless
hardness
if you cannot feel
there is nothing to heal for
let alone make better

who said that to be all open
wouldn’t be the most daring of all?
in itself
a beginning
an end
courageous
fierce
love

who said that light
gentle bestowing, resisting all odds
rooting sinking deep is not the bravest form of fierce?
is not the bravest form of fierce?