We are little round-faced girls with
Patent leather shoes on
Stick-like legs coated with Vaseline
A bow in our hair
Bible verses memorized...
Mother's praises and admonitions ringing in our ears:
"My child is so smart!"
"Doesn't my child look nice?"
"Child, speak up loud for Momma now."
"Don't let me catch you sitting with Ms. So and So's daughter, that child talks all during church!"
Then
We are gangly young gazelles with
"I'll have to have these or I'll die!" shoes on
Legs akimbo, tangled in their rush to womanhood
Long pigtails in our hair
The latest song memorized...
Embarrassed by our mother's praises and ignoring her admonitions:
"You look so pretty in that red plaid dress!"
"Stand up straight; you look like you're diggin' potatoes!"
"You turn that record player downl"
Then
We are young, mini-temptresses/heartbreakers with
School-bathroom makeup and high-heeled shoes
Wobbling at the end of short-skirted legs
(With the hems rolled up)
Phone numbers memorized...
Mother's admonitions traded for advice from friends based on music video psychology:
"Girl, study after we get off the phone."
"You won't get pregnant if he pulls out Girl!"
"Oooh Girl! You look gooood with that Jherri Curl!"
"Un uh Girl, T.I. is definitely cuter than Chris Brown!"
Then
We are naïve, young scholars with
Shoes made for comfort on
Legs like a goddess
Our hair pulled back in ponytails
James' Say It Loud! (I'm Black and I'm Proud)/ KRS-One's Philosophy/ Nas' If I ruled the World memorized...
Heeding mother's admonitions, but unsure of her praises:
"You can do anything you set your mind to!"
"Your father and I worked hard to send you to school, now your job is to study!"
"You'll be the first in the family"
"Don't let me catch you doubting yourself; do you know who you are, where you come from?"
And
We are confused new women-children with
Sexy-for-the-first-time shoes on
Legs that work all day, then party all night
Hair piled high, falling in spiral curls
Club locations memorized...
We hear praises from men, but admonish ourselves for poor choices:
"Oooh baby girl you look good!"
"What's your number baby?"
"Baby of course I love you, those other girls are just friends!"
And
We are brash, young princesses with
Run-the-world shoes on
Take charge legs
Our hair makes a statement, reflects whom we are
E-mail addresses memorized...
We hear praises for our work but question our capabilities as we gaze at a ceiling of glass:
"He said I was the best teacher/lawyer/doctor/writer the school/firm/department
has seen in yearsso why didn't I get the promotion?"
"Will I be able to handle work and a family?"
"Is it OK to give up my job to go back to school?"
Then
We become proud, fierce, lionesses with
Low heeled shoes on
Tired legs
Hair clenched in the fist of a three-year-old, streaked with cracker crumbs, pieces
stuck in the collar of our coat...
Pediatrician's office numbers memorized...
We hear the needs of our family, and try to be all to each:
"Honey I'll take the kids to school/church/practice/the game/play/recital/girl/boy scout meeting/the doctor/dentist/birthday party/camping/skating/swimming."
"You invited your boss for dinner at our house ... tonight Baby?"
"Sweetheart, don't forget your lunch!"
Then
We grow to be regal, spiritual queens with
Mostly sensible shoes on
Legs that sometimes hurt, but carry us where we need to go
Locs salted and peppered with seasonings of time
Local politicians' office numbers memorized...
We hear the needs of our community and reach out to make change:
"That is the 5th time I had to write the mayor's office about cleaning up this street!"
"I have to go to the Democratic/Delta/Eastern Star/Links/Church Convention ... I won't miss my chance to vote!"
"My brother/father/husband was the commissioner; I can help you win a place on the board."
Then
We find ourselves strong, beloved, grandmothers with
Sunday-go-to-meetin' shoes on
Legs with stockings knotted at the knee
Hair like molten silver, old photos, or first-time wedding gowns
Grandchildren's birthdays memorized...
We hear the needs of our relatives and reach out with strength and love:
"Baby, every child away at school needs a little piece of money."
"Give me that baby, I can make him stop crying."
"Of course you can bring a friend to Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter dinner baby!"
"The baby can stay with me until you get on your feet."
Finally
We are mahogany angels with ebony wings
We have taken off our travlin' shoes to rest our legs.
Halos glowing with inner peace
God's praises memorized...
Echoes of loved ones surround us, and we reach out,
still doing, still working, still helping to...
tame young gazelles,
protect mini-temptresses,
encourage young scholars,
advise women/children,
support young princesses,
calm fierce lionesses,
attend spiritual queens,
to say "soon and very soon" to the grandmothers...
All of this done with strength and love
All of this done...
While keeping vigil over
little
round-faced
girls.
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