April is National Poetry Month and is recognized by poets and spoken-word arts all over the world. This poem by Nikki Giovanni was published in "The Selective Works of Nikki Giovanni" if you would like to read more. For this poetry lover, Nikki Giovanni gave voice to womxn as so much more than what society sees. Some may feel her expressions are egotistic in form, however, to know thyself is fundamental. Nikki G's poetry is raw, open, and dynamic. We hope you enjoy today's selection.
so he said: you ain’t got no talent
if you didn’t have a face
you wouldn’t be nobody
and she said: god created heaven and earth
and all that’s Black within them
so he said: you ain’t really no hot shit
they tell me plenty sisters
take care better business than you
and she said: on the third day he made chitterlings
and all good things to eat
and said: “that’s good”
so he said: if the white folks hadn’t been under
yo skirt and been giving you the big play
you’d a had to come on uptown like everybody else
and she replied: then he took a big Black greasy rib
from adam and said we will call this woeman and her
name will be sapphire and she will divide into four parts
that simone may sing a song
and he said: you pretty full of yourself ain’t chu
so she replied: show me someone not full of herself
and i’ll show you a hungry person
Source: The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni (2003)
Nikki Giovanni, “Poem For A Lady Whose Voice I Like” from The Selected Poems of Nikki Giovanni. Copyright © 1996 by Nikki Giovanni.
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