"Woman Poem" by Nikki Giovanna

[absolutclaire.livejournal.com]

you see, my whole life
is tied up
to unhappiness
it's father cooking breakfast
and me getting fat as a hog
or having no food
at all and father proving
his incompetence
again
i wish i knew how it would feel
to be free

it's having a job
they won't let you work
or no work at all
castrating me
(yes it happens to women too)

it's a sex object if you're pretty
and no love
or love and no sex if you're fat
get back fat black woman be a mother
grandmother strong thing but not woman
gameswoman romantic woman love needer
man seeker dick eater sweat getter
fuck needing love seeking woman

it's a hole in your shoe
and buying lil' sis a dress
and her saying you shouldn't
when you know
all too well-that you shouldn't

but smiles are only something we give
to properly dressed social workers
not each other
only smiles of i know
your game sister
which isn't really
a smile

joy is finding a pregnant roach
and squashing it
not finding someone to hold
let go get off get back don't turn
me on you black dog
how dare you care
about me
you ain't got no good sense
cause i ain't shit you must be lower
than that to care

it's a filthy house
with yesterday's watermelon
and monday's tears
cause true ladies don't
know how to clean

it's intellectual devastation
of everybody
to avoid emotional commitment
"yeah honey i would've married
him but he didn't have no degree"

it's knock-kneed mini-skirted
wig wearing died blond mama's scar
born dead my scorn your whore
rough heeled broken nailed powdered
face me
whose whole life is tied
up to unhappiness
cause it's the only
for real thing
i
know

Comments

[ian-gazarek.livejournal.com]

Wow that's incredible.

[absolutclaire.livejournal.com]

i wanted to thank you for your comment and to say that one of the poems you posted (i believe it was the one by Edna St Vincent Millay) pushed me to post. i am glad you liked it. it was my first post. hopefully i can wow you all again! :)

[joseishijin.livejournal.com]

Wow. There are no words.

Thank you for posting this.

[bardcat.livejournal.com]

powerful!

[pushyouaround.livejournal.com]

first of all: this poem rocks my fucking socks off. oh my god it took my breath away. thank you so much for posting it.

second: you are listening to my favorite band of all time. and for that...i love you.

all too welcome

[absolutclaire.livejournal.com]

please IM me sometime. i think we may have very similar interests. i'm glad you liked the poem. read more of her stuff. google "incurable gallery nikki giovanni" and there is an incredible list. enjoy!

Re: all too welcome

[pushyouaround.livejournal.com]

i'll look her up.

my aim is: we xthex living

i'll add you to my friends list...if that's cool with you.