For a friend.

desiree ingram

we were born brown

several shades different,

yes.

but we were born 

the same.

though your skin is slightly more

cocoa butter

than mine,

we are both

still silk & smooth

under a finger's touch.

the same that strokes your hair

you burn

to make straight

as i mutilate mine

to curl.

we use the same means

to temporarily

destroy ourselves.

               (similar ways)

like me

you speak

with a spanish tongue

like he

and she

you are the same

though to them, you

do  not  look

that way

          - the same.

you are.

you roll them rr's like

your cumbia hips,

mixed

with ancient africana

wonder

it booms in your blood like

crimson thunder

under the sun

i rub oil on my body &

lay beneath Huitzilopochtli's rays

for an entire day until

[ding ding ding]

done!

we are one

we are the same

the same shade of beautiful brown

                   

                        of beautiful brown

the same.