#napowrimo Day 15 - “Black Friend”

Hey, y’all. On Day 15 of National Poetry Month, the prompt is to write a poem about something you have absolutely no interest in.  Here’s my poem:

Day 15 - BLACK FRIEND

By Farah Lawal Harris

I have absolutely no interest 

in being your one and only 

black friend—

the one you don’t actually hang out with on the weekend, 

but who you refer to in conversation 

so so-and-so knows you have 

a black friend.  

I don’t want to be the kiss of chocolate 

in a sea of milk at your wedding. 

I have no interest in wearing a social mask and plastered smile 

outside the hours of 9 - 5. 

I don’t want to be your work

on being a better ally.

I just want to be

your colleague.