No. 40 - Shorty Rock to the Beat

[Hey! Nzingha here - I am in deep appreciation for the support and encouragement coming in. If one of these letters, or scripts, lands well for you, please do share with a friend. Below a throwback shot from 2013....sitting in my old room likely around this time of year creating a plan for the next 5 years. 2018 seemed so far away when I wrote it in on this poster board. And yet, it is now 2024, almost seven years from that goal post. Fast forward to today, I found myself soaking it out or in. Felt that tickle of a cold in my throat this morning so figured a soak was in order, like obviously, right? LOL. Hopefully the herbs you see in this shot, herbs of rose, calendula, cornflower, comfrey, almond, lavender...are doing all the things, anyways...here's No. 40 - a shorty.]

friends⟶

i wish you a night⟶

a sleep beside love⟶

i pray without stop⟶

for flowers to blossom⟶

for this path to stay lit⟶

that love rains above all⟶

i pray⟶we smell the earth⟶

and remember how to tend her⟶

i pray⟶for black people⟶

to thrive authentically⟶swiftly navigating racial hostility⟶

meant to eliminate our image⟶

meant to eliminate us from our visual memory⟶

Æ moves with precision⟶ when livin’⟶

in hostile territory⟶she sisters me⟶

we pick up our cadence⟶as if we had never taken it off⟶

we speak as often as we can⟶

which can span once every two years to once every two weeks⟶

and so it is⟶earbuds in my ear⟶i cannot hear otherwise⟶

uninterrupted time before me⟶i cannot sink in otherwise⟶

and walking⟶somewhere but nowhere at once⟶

movement is a mode⟶i listen⟶

i do not always take her advice⟶

i follow the full-out way she articulates herself⟶

like, not mocking-it like⟶like extension like⟶like front row like⟶like inspires me like⟶

she doesn’t like white people⟶they think⟶

she says⟶not at all⟶she instructs her young children⟶

if the cartoon or show does not have a black character⟶and if that black character is not central to the story⟶

then you two cannot watch the show⟶

may we feast upon a diet to our liking⟶our loving⟶

may all visions young children envision contain their image⟶

their vision⟶she prays in simple forms⟶simple words⟶

hers a conversation between her and her Creation⟶

each word a supplication⟶

a wish towards that which is their portion⟶

Tagged under: LATI, sistering, hostile territory, visual text

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