For Colored Men Only, Maybe
You forced your roots into holy landPreviously named, now stolen landWatered by the blood of flogged backsOf royalty now clothed in potato sacksBlood sticky in rebellion wanted to rebuffThe pull from the deprived soil sho’nuffThe exchange of wet to dry, impossible to resistSo the stolen land gave the stolen blood a kiss And what of the seeds so long ago sewn?Took one sip...of that not so holy waterAnd strange fruit from strange trees was bornKnow as one-drop sons, tear drop daughtersSeeds of thieves, murderers and rapistsCarry burdens passed down so long agoBlue eyes paired with brown skin...escapists?From consequences of the new Jim Crow?No, not hardly you see, not for girls like meWith enough of Africa to break freeOut of my skin, my hair, my mind...especiallyA constant reminder of snatched away creedsOf stolen lands and stolen seedsSo much so, my very own barely looks at meSelf love, self respect and adoration we all preachBut what of all this?When he refuses to hang even his hat…on my tree?