My mouth harbors love like a wellExcept most days the well feels dryNo one told me how to replenishI’ve been taught to fear large bodies of water'— Crowned

I am writing the success of my every breath.

We understand we are the backbone despite the backhand.

Everybody wants to be a heroBut most of us are just misunderstood villains

Equality will cost you your luxurious life If a Black woman can’t vote If a brown baby can’t be fed If we all don’t have the same opportunity America promised

When you live where we liveYou say what it is & if you can't say what it isOr if it hurt too much,Or maybe it's too confusingYou just say "whatever"That way you ain't no lie

Black people will always find each other in the passage between death and America

today, i am a black woman in a body of coali am always burning and no one knows my namei am a nameless fury, i am a blues scratched fromthe throat of ms. nina—i am always angryi am always a bumble hive of helloi love like this too loudly, my neighborsthink i am an unforgiving bitter sometimes, i think my neighbors are right most times i think my neighbors are nosey

A friend is someone seeing youAnd hearing youWithout you having to sayEverythingEvery time

When I was youngerI thought I had superpowersThought if I sat real still and stared at a bookNo one would be able to see meI got so good at itI forgot that I’m the only one playing the gameSit still with a book or my head downAnd you can go missing