15. In a world
that doesn’t consider
my body to be mine
self-pleasure is an act
of self-preservation
when I’m feeling disconnected
I connect with my center
touch by touch
I drop back into myself
at the orgasm
16.
I’m not going to pretend
To be less intelligent than I am
So a man can feel
More comfortable around me
The one I deserve
Will see my greatness and
Want to lift it higher
My body is so hot from wanting you
I’m spilling by the time we take our clothes off
I want the kind of love that
Transcends me
Into another realm
I want you so deep
We enter the spirit world
Go from being gentle to rough
I want eye contact
Spread my legs to
Opposite ends of the room
And look with your fingers
I want my soul to be touched
By the tips of yours
I want to come
Out of this room
Different people
Maybe I walked out of the womb with it
Is it possible to be born
With such a melancholy spirit
Maybe it met me at the airport
Slid into my passport
And remained with me
Long after we landed in
A country that did not want us
Maybe it was on my father’s face
When he met us in baggage claim
And I had no idea who he was
Maybe the rapist left behind
Or was it that criminal I called a boyfriend
Maybe he beat it into me
Maybe I met the one
And lost him
Maybe it was the love
Of my life’s parting gift
Or maybe
It was all of those things at once