salt

to not be safe on the earth.

simply

because

of the color of your skin.

how does a being survive this.

was

i

who held you

when

you

wanted

someone else.

–– treason

you.

not wanting me.

was

the beginning of me

wanting myself.

thank you.

knowing your worth

can save your life

you say

‘you are such a ‘good writer’ for a woman of color.’

i hear

‘you have a better command of the english language than i
do.

my bitterness is wild salt in my blood

causing

my organs to crush and weep

and

this is the sound of my pain.’

–– translation | white noise

your skin

smells

like light.

i think you are

the

moon.

i lost a whole continent.

a whole continent from my memory.

unlike all other hyphenated americans

my hyphen is made of blood. feces. bone.

when africa says hello

my mouth is a heartbreak

because i have nothing in my tongue

to answer her.

i do not know how to say hello to my mother.

–– african american ii

i am a child of three countries.

the water.

the heat.

the words.

she asked

‘you are in love

what does love look like’

to which i replied

‘like everything i’ve ever lost

come back to me.’

i knew you

before

i met you.

i’ve known you my whole life.

–– nafsi