BLACK GIRL FLY

By Farah Lawal Harris

Fly, Black girl, fly

like the Black swan you are!

Pirouette!

Prance on point like the King of Pop,

for you are the Princess.

I am the Queen.

We the jesters

if you let them tell it.

But we know who we are.

Our Ancestors, too, were dancers.

If you watch and listen,

I’ll teach you how to spin faster than

thunder claps through tumors,

leap and land lighter than liberation.

I’ll teach you how to Dougie,

shimmy shimmy harder than ya stress,

twerk ‘til sweat overcomes tears

and audacity annihilates fear.

We are fierce!

Anyone ever tell you that?

Don’t you love how we fly forward

while looking back?

Family taught me how to do that—

Mama, Daddy, sister, brothers,

cousins, uncles, aunties,

neighbors in our building,

enemies and frenemies.

When you fall out,

say “Thanks for the memories”

and vote with your feet.

When the weight of expectations

makes your knees creak,

you best know it’s time to release.

We only get one pair of kneecaps—

we best enjoy them thangs

while we still can.

Drop down and get your eagle on, sis!

Then brush the ash off your shoulders

and fly!