Honouring you, sister

i see you sister
and i don’t

what do i know
i ask myself
about your struggle

about living in this world
ruled by us - men
and i do feel the impulse
taught to me so young
to see you and reduce you

to this wonder of a body you bring
to think you are different from me

less and weak

as i feel it
i also know - this is a lie
this is violence and venom

in you sister
i see my mother
this heroine in gucci
hiding herself
behind these prada glasses
while she was the fiercest
hardworking queen i ever seen
her love was iron and gold

seeing my mother in you
i see strength and power
honour and grace
independence and will

but also
the price and the pain
i see the violence
physical and spiritual
the oppression
the exploitation
this limiting growth
by a classist and chauvinist system

i see my dad
resting in her shadow
and i see me
longing for her love

because this
is what i also see
in you and me

although this world is fucked
this system is separating
everyone from anyone
setting us up
against each other

there is love
there are beings
like bell hooks and nikki giovanni
like fred hampton
and just now like luigi
standing for their beliefs
to free the people
lift the spirit
and bring life and justice

so sister please
teach me to be a brother
and tell me when i’m wrong