HAIRSTORY

I have hair braided but I've had it
all over my head, nappy Motherland
kinky wild free like what black babies' hair
looks like when we don't try
to tame it with a comb

I like my hair wild except
you can't get a job with
it that free, and with me that
free, so rather than expose
how wild I can be,  I braid
or lay it down, so as not
to scare folk--maybe so as not
to scare myself

© Valerie Bridgeman

May 6, 2013

CINCO DE MAYO

We were sitting in Trudy's
waiting on the pollo de suizas
enchiladas and a marguerita 
to top of a long day of
conference talk about how to save 
this particular part of the world--we've been
trying to figure out how to save the world
a long time now; having failed so often
doesn't stop us from trying
or hoping we'll get it right one day
but sitting in Tex-Mex
restaurants with Billy Cyrus music
blasting overhead and the clank
and chatter of UT students
guzzling beers to our nursing
this one drink that will last two hours
makes world saving seem possible
at least today

© Valerie Bridgeman

May 5, 2013

DRUNK WOMAN'S WORDS

Consider all the things I said to you
when I was intoxicated with our love
when I couldn't pull up out of the quicksand
when every thought brought me back
to you or to what it would be like to
be across the way, just around the corner
from you; consider how I told you your
name is safe in my mouth and how I spoke
it reverently, like fairy dusted overlaid
with diamonds and gold, remember that
and hear what my mama said: a drunk
woman's words are a sober woman's
thoughts.

© Valerie Bridgeman

May 5, 2013

ALL THE ITS

I keep trying because love demands it
but I don't have any energy left for it
for all the "its" that are required
I wish I knew a magic word, something
that would make it easier... I don't mean
easy, just easier, not so hard, not
so "now what do you want because I
keep giving you what you want and then
you move the goal posts..."
but then whoever keeps score always wins
and you're good at keeping score

© Valerie Bridgeman

May 4, 2013

IT DOESN"T MATTER

It doesn't matter
that you don't 
I do
that's all

© Valerie Bridgeman

May 3, 2013

STYLING EVIL

Evil dresses in anonymity

cloaks in innuendo

drags in slander

masquerades in gossip

Evil wears 5-inch black-and-red bottom

betrayals, flaunts lies like costume

jewelry shining loud in night lights

Evil styles up 

real good

© Valerie Bridgeman

May 2, 2013

HOW DARE YOU

How dare you ask me
for my blessing, ask 
that I pretend you mean
right by me while
you slander my name
and act as if you don't 
know what racism is
How dare you want
me to make it better
for you, make it alright
when you've given
nothing back in the 
way of restitution, in
the way of fixing the
problem, how dare
you barter for my
silence

© Valerie Bridgeman

May 1, 2013