Poems

Black and Beautiful

Take antelope from the animal realm

And animals are robbed of beauty
Take black nightshade from the vegetable realm
And vegetables are sapped of beauty
If even the blind can sense the antelope’s beauty with their hands
How much more a person with clear sight 
A black and beautiful woman calls to mind
That most beautiful animal of all animals
My black-and-beautiful lover calls to mind black nightshade
Black and short
With shining teeth
Covered with modest lips
When my eyes meet yours 
I praise your creator in heaven
Your love envelopes me
I am love sick
Your love envelopes me
I can’t stop laughing 
If people ask why
I could say
It is the love of my black-and-beautiful that covers me