(She) Who Runs the World
This tryptic of portraits represents the black woman. She’s been through a lot, too much. But she’s come a long way and now she knows she’s made of magic. You can see it in her eyes that she knows her worth and she’s not about backing down.
Alchemy
She’s so full of creative power, a portal opens from the back of her mind. She gives birth to a mythical creature without even a backward glance. Her hair doesn’t cascade, it swirls in pools of brilliantly coloured elements.
What’s in a Name?
“It is the special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming.”
- Ben E. King, “Spanish Harlem” 1960
Head in the Clouds
Head in the clouds, stars in my eyes
When I was young, a stranger sauntered into my hometown. On his way he tripped on the roots that fed and watered me. Embarrassed by his clumsiness, he had no choice but to tear them up and cut them down. I came unbound. Untethered, I floated into the sky and my heart filled with nebulas and diamond shaped stars.
I’ll never cross his path again.