A Black Women's Tears

When a black woman cries,

It only appears to the ears of another black woman

When black women cry together,

We empathize so naturally

In the reflection of tears from

Another black women eyes,

I see the same reflection of me

Black women are the most disrespected person in America

From a young age, we are sexually objectified

Accused of being “too fast” or “too loud”

When we speak our minds,

About how the world is treating us

The mothers, the nurturers, and the seeds of life

When a Black woman cries,

Stay strong queen

For every time your tears land,

They shed mercy

Mercy you give the earth

Water its soil, and leaves

So the healing of love

Can restore the tree of life

In the roots of the tree

Are the strongest connection to the seeds

From our heads grow afros

Melanin darken with the sun

Bodies a temple as pure as the soul,

Smile as bright as the spirit

Black women are the gifters of creation

Let them not bite your hand when you feed

In exchange tease them with the fruit

For once they see the magic of the black women

They’ll take care of the roots

The black woman’s tears expose her whole truth

~ Shantell Johnson