Ode to My Ancestor

you died, and I was born

hands tied to a tree

dress stripped to the ground

bare black skin

meeting its date with his whip

leather slapping to your back

ripping away each layer of your black skin

eating you away to your spine

with the sun beaming down making your blood shine

voices trembling but it’s no time to whine

black women don’t feel PAIN

you weren't insane

that’s been cursed into our bloodline

you had the wisdom

you had the strength of an elephant

big, tough skin with the largest heart in the Land

but still hunted, and sold for entertainment

you were the foundation

that built itself up

from bricks thrown at you

and still, loved

like you’ve never been under attack

you died, and I was born