#napowrimo Day 8 - “Imani”

Happy Friday! On Day 8 of National Poetry Month, the prompt is to write a poem from the perspective of your alter-ego:

Day 8 - IMANI

By Farah Lawal Harris

Imani is down. 

she don’t entertain clowns, 

but if a bozo wanna play, 

Imani will ruin his day. 

Imani’s done things i can’t say.

Imani knows you’re a fan.

she got n*ggas in the palm of her hand. 

Imani just might steal your man 

or your girl—

everything’s possible in Imani’s world. 

Imani’s nose in the air 

as she sits up on high;

her ego’s too big 

for her to fear heights. 

she ain’t scared of no fights.

she loves all of the lights.

throw on some reggae

and Imani be winin’ her waist.

Imani like L’s to the face,

can’t stand Henny no chase—

adds Hypnotiq to make it exotic.

Imani exotic.

Imani lives for the weekend,

goin’ out with her friends,

laughin’, cussin’, chillin’,

late night eatin’ 

Checkers, jumbo slice, or some chicken,

wishin’ those nights would ever end.

Imani scared.

scared she will be replaced.

fast forward 15 years

and Imani got my face.

on some days, 

she’s just a memory

from teens to early 20s.

wasn’t nothin’ you could tell me 

struttin’ down on 18th Street!

other days, 

she’s in purgatory 

trying to break free, shouting:

“You was a sheltered girl tryna get out!

Yeah, they think you classy now, 

but don’t forget 

where, when and how

we got down.”

Imani right.

if only she could see me now.