Juneteenth

Juneteenth:

He asks me my name,

but he calls me beautiful,

because, it is what i am.

Ha! I laugh,

“So if you met a dragon,

you would call it Dragon,

rather than its name?

Perhaps I should call you Negro,”

“No” he sighs,

“I just think you are beautiful.”

I tell him “I would rather you

Call me Warrior,

That is what I am.”

but he still calls me beautiful.

He tells me he wants a wife,

I reply, I will not marry again

He tells me don’t be scared

I reply I am not afraid

He leans in,

I lean away

He calls me beautiful,

I don’t think he even remembers my name