A Belly Of Protection

[Written after the 7th unarmed Black person was killed by police in 2015]

I nearly started toyi-toying in Trader Joe’s today I will-not-swallow-this-rage. ..tried conjuring an army of time travelers in my dreams To move my feet from this moment Maybe move to Bobby Schmurda'a block, (you'll be safer there.) Like eating tater tots and macaroons to build a belly of protection. Like having lots of babies. Like having no babies. Like writing chapters to cut you Like pressing on, Like quitting. “i was floating near the ceiling watching myself being raped." Like her. Like yelling fuck Then praying for forgiveness Like rallying my girls, taking off my rings, putting Vaseline on my face and whooping somebody's ass Like being alone Like never saying race again. Eating #blacklivesmatter signs, to swallow the insanity of it all To never eat meat again Hunted now, now "Times like this require furious dancing." Step.