ODE TO OVEREXTENDERS

By Farah Lawal Harris, 2024

I start to overextend;

a raspy voice over my right shoulder yells:

“Girl, save yourself!”

I shudder, turn and hug her,

ethereal spiritual combination

of mother, child, and lover:

3 generations of self-veneration.

I remove my silk cape and put it down,

sit my pretty ass down

and finally rest!