Baby Be Parched Too
(Sonnet for Aunt Sarah of Nina Simone's Four Women)
by Erika-Janea
My skin is black
My arms are long
My hair is wooly
My back is strong
Strong enough to take the pain
Inflicted again and again
What do they cal me?
My name is aunt Sarah
-Nina Simone
Her mouth be weary, dry from drinkin cotton gin
all night long. Her take him bottle, can't drink softly
so her gulp deep, close eyes, and hope hard color be thin
weighted with massa's seed, him breed white and pretty
but her be blacker than Mississippi at dusk,
baby bound to her belly. Can't tell no
-body bout the stench of him sticky cum round her lips, bust,
thighs, cunt, slick and warm on her skin, drippin slow.
And when him done, her lay hands on baby's footprint.
Her be stiff and silent, legs throbbin, lips tender
as him dress. Knowin her baby a yella tint,
layin still in her belly. Her move her fingers
from baby to him bed sheets, saffron and silk,
while her bosom swellin, leakin with baby's milk.