Venerability – poem (#14)

venerability

do not fear
the strands of steel of in your hair
or the looseness in your neck
or the tremble of your thighs
or the spots on your skin
where the sun has kissed you every year
take the worship as your due
i wanna be
that old woman
who gives no fucks
and wears red shoes
and dances at weddings
while tellin’ tales to make the young folx blush
whose afro fluffs up like cloud
or wears twisted ropes of snow
who won’t let nobody
set foot out the door
without a drink and a slice of pie
and when i die
don’t shed no tears
cuz my epitaph will say
she lived

Sumayyah Talibah © 14 April 2017