lack of self care
cranes in the sky - solange is sampled in this (the italics are the lyrics)
i take one deep breath
that barely fills my lungs but i still do it
& i think of what self care
should really be like
i tried to drink it away
& how so many black women
shoulder too damn much
how it breaks metaphorical backs
continues the cycle
of a lack of self care
no bath bombs
no chill afternoon
no extended stress relief
i’ll cry it away
don’t you cry baby
haunted houses
originally published in sublet press
somebody needs to come over/ so they can tell me / why it all has to be on my shoulders / why
must black girls have to hold the world up by our pinky fingers / then provide amusement /
warmth / tenderness / why do we need to live in haunted houses? / entertain or south our ghosts / can
we actually be alive for ourselves? / can we actually live where there is life?
Vanessa Maki is a queer writer,artist & other things. She’s full of black girl magic & has no apologizes for that. Her work has appeared in various places like Really System & others. She is also forthcoming in a variety of places. She’s founder/EIC of rose quartz magazine & is involved in other spaces as well. Follow her twitter & visit her site .