love.

they implore us,
“teach for change.”

i wonder if
they have considered
that they hurt us
when they do not first,
know how to love.

you know (a haiku).

look in the mirror.
and name her. never let them
tell you who you are.

sister.

if she knew me/as well as i can see her,/we would both know love. /instead
we fight each other for the same air,/as if we didn’t need each other/to breathe.

also see: https://pdotberry.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/i-have-a-confession/

if this were ordinary…

if this
were ordinary,

i would’ve spent
the last six months
writing about it.

but once again,
words are just words.

and we
were never that.

(artwork by chidi okoye)