a magician relieved

dear mother, sweet mother, i learned from you the heaviest trick of a black woman’s life: how to be too many things and be unbreakable dear mother, sweet mother, i will practice and perform with my life to give you the rest of yours you deserve the one you solely and rightfully own i will give you the way to live yours my audience will be yours- and you your magic will flow through me and get caught in my coily hair so that i may comb it out and let its residue sit on my hands and know that every line on my palms, although you remain in the crowd, was touched by you and every line on my page was scribed with your mysteries and my pen will be glad to bear the weight that you have