Too small,

Growing up,

Too playful,

Growing up,

Too bad,

Growing up,

Too young,

Growing up,

Slowly but surely,

Growing up;

The dream,

Like seeds in the wind,

A marvelous dream,

A whole day's walk away,

A whole childhood away.

Strong women.

Natural black women,

Young and old women,

A mother,

A grandmother,

Not auntie but Ayni,

Ayni and Godmother,

Church mothers,

Sunday school,

Teachers,

Grown Woman Cousins,

Neighbors,

Half-sisters, Step-sisters,

Step-mothers.

The elders,

Church elders,

Cousin elders,

Extended family,

Elders.

Age -

thrown like a knife,

Age -

used as reasoning,

For respect.

To carry history.

The wise ones I read,

Books were my guide,

I was the silent one,

I watched from the doorway,

Listening from within,

Not ear-hustling,

Peering at the bright sunlight,

Scripture offered as a guide,

To childhood,

To teenagehood,

To adulthood.