Black Mother, Black Son. A Poem.

Black mother cries for Black son.

Holds his perfect newborn body in her arms and promises the full force of her love and protection for all the days of his life.

Black son grows out of his mother’s arms.

Still in reach of her love but beyond her protection.

Black mother cries for Black son.

Knowing that the world he grows up in will not hold him the way she has, will wrap its arms around him in an asphyxiating embrace.

Black son cries.

When he realizes his mother’s arms was the only safe place.

Black son cries.

The grip of the world grows tighter and tighter until he utters “I. can’t. breathe.”

Black son cries for Black mother.

Black son dies.

Black mother cries.

Black mother cries.

Black mother cries.

Black mother whys.

Why she held on to the belief that her hold would shield Black son from theirs. Why she made a promise she could not keep, taking a leap of faith in a world that did not believe in anything but stealing breath out of Black bodies.

Black mother sighs.

Weary.

Wrung-out.

Depleted.

Black mother cries for Black son.

Holds his perfect newborn body in her arms.

And cries.

In advance.