Why are you so bothered by my existence?
Why

The more I love me
The more you hate me for it
The more I succeed
The more you want to see me fail

My kinky hair
My broad nose
My thick lips
My beautiful
Amazing
Enchanting
Melanin-rich skin

Pisses
You
Off

Why

Must every statement
Of Black love
Of empowerment
Every moment we take
To mourn those we’ve lost

Turn into
White
Tears

Why do we
Need to worry about
Your feelings
While you ignore
Ours

Can we live

No
Really
Can we

Can we be happy
Can we be angry
Can we be brilliant
Can we be great

Must everything we do
Be measured against
White
Inadequacy

We do not hate you
We do not wish ill
We do not compete
We do not oppress
We do not want to “win”

We just want
To simply
Exist

Unchallenged

And free