Sleepless Ocean

Because you were born a crumbling mountain

Because they made a song in God’s throat

Called it          Motown          Called it          Black woman

Called it         “what cannot be killed”

Because babies call you mama mammy nanny

Because the black on your skin sings a lemon bath siren

Because no one asks if it hurts to be this Black

Because no one asks if it hurts to be this kind of woman

Because woman and Black mean silent mean invisible

Because you goin’ fight for her babies before your own

Because you know they goin’ kill your babies

Because Khadiatou Diallo

Because Lesley McSpadden

Because Sybrina Fulton

Because Valerie Bell

Because Mamie Til

Because a Black mother know ain't no song for that empty in ya belly

Because a Black mother know ain't no ocean big enough to carry away the corpses

Because you moan

Because you howl

Because you howl

Because you howllll          llllll          llllll          llllll

Because you know the belly croon a ravenous song

Because the sound call the babies back home

Because you home

Because you home

H o m e you be

Cause you sleep w/your hands thrashing

A lemon wedge beneath the bed frame to keep away an orchestra of ghosts

Because Khadiatou Diallo

Because Lesley McSpadden

Because Sybrina Fulton

Because Valerie Bell

Because Mamie Til

Because your Black mother’s heart be home to a sleepless ocean

& even the moon shut it's mouth tight          to listen