La Mujer

Quien es la mujer?
This woman before me
with her
fiercely gentle eyes?
In a sea of strangers
soon to be friends
we met in the kitchen
where you were
stirring up trouble
como no?
Your brown sugar eyes
sweetly seduced me
as your hand extended to greet me.
Hesitation to touch
soon changed into
temptation to clutch
and never let go
in case you disappear.
Quien es la mujer?
This woman before me
with her
fiercely gentle eyes
who could liquify
my steel rib cage
and touch my heart
in a way that
only love can
with a single glance?
That night,
we left the spicy food
and heated discussions
to enter a new
dimension of
neutrality.
In a moon lit bath
the stars shone in your eyes
as you proudly showed me
that your hands could
already whisper
but you wanted more.
You taught me Spanish
and I taught you Sign.
Over the years
our paths, passions, and politics
intertwined
and we rooted ourselves
in the tapestry of life.
>From the UFW in Watsonville
to the capitol in Sacramento
we raised our voices
and our arms
in struggle.
On this night,
we come in from the cold,
dive into the
spicy food
and heated discussions
among our friends
who were previously
strangers.
Now, when a friend asks
"Quien es la mujer?"
this woman with her
fiercely gentle eyes
I reply
la mujer
this woman
es mi
companera.

-- by Ayisha Basha Knight

======================

Sista Queen

Yes I am a queen
dressed in the jewels
of knowledge,
adorned with
pride and inspiration
cuz I was baptized
with the words of
Nikki Giovanni,
Maya Angelou,
Alice Walker,
June Jordan
Angela Davis,
and Opal Palmer Adisa.
While history has taught me
to remember
Martin, Malcolm and Nelson,
my mother told me
never to forget
Coretta, Betty and Winnie.
Yes, I am a queen
dressed in the jewels
of knowledge,
adorned with
pride and inspiration
cuz I was baptized
with the words of
Nikki Giovanni,
Maya Angelou,
Alice Walker,
June Jordan
Angela Davis,
and Opal Palmer Adisa.
Broad shoulders,
muscles curving,
full breasts,
round stomach,
large hips,
strong legs.
This is a sculpture
of a true queen
like me
who walks in beauty
on a road paved
with the
accomplishments
of those who walked
before, and now,
with me.
Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth,
Fannie Lou Hamer, Coretta Scott King,
Betty Shabazz, Rosa Parks,
Septima Clark, Audre Lorde,
Angela Davis, Barbara Christian.
Each woman,
a stepping stone.
Together,
the sweet honey
in a rock
that has weathered
the storm.
A testimony to
women's strength.
This is the foundation
of a true queen
like me
dressed in the jewels
of knowledge,
adorned with
pride and inspiration
cuz I was baptized
with the words of
Nikki Giovanni,
Maya Angelou,
Alice Walker,
June Jordan,
Angela Davis,
and Opal Palmer Adisa.

-- by Ayisha Basha Knight