I’m in the home stretch of writing 30 poems in 30 days, y’all. On Day 20 of National Poetry Month, the prompt is to write a poem that anthropomorphizes a kind of food. I had to Google the word “anthropomorphize” because I have never heard it used in conversation 😂 According to Cambridge Dictionary, “anthromorphise” means to “to show or treat an animal, god, or object as if it is human in appearance, character, or behavior.” Here’s my poem:

Day 20 - CHOCOLATE 

By Farah Lawal Harris

Evil temptress,

I used to love you,

overdose on your taste,

but for the last few years, I can’t 

take you anymore.

I used to hate 

when people confused me for you

and I’d lash out,

break up 2 make up like

“Look at this b*tch over here tryna act like me.”

But really I was tryna act like you,

wanting to be smooth, desired,

sweet.

I wanted people to love me so much

holes would form in their teeth,

softness would cradle their solar plexus

just like you

who my body has rejected.

It’s as if the revolution that took place in me

went so blackity-black that it recognized cow’s milk

as the infiltration of the man.

The only form of you I can take is hard to find, pure,

bitter.

Sweet temptress,

I’ll be seeing you around,

but you won’t see me.