My Momma Didn't Raise Me Right But

My momma didn’t raise me right,

But Florida Evans did.

 

Perhaps Others’ roots are different,

where their ancesters came from;

roots for me are my past and my “training” –

others’ demand for my service, my body.

My momma didn’t raise me right,

            But Florida Evans did. 

Trust me – if I am in a room with a man

I can smell it, feel it,

attuned to it since I was two.

I smell the tobacco on your skin,

the testosterone underlayer –

I will respond to it both consciously and unconsciously.

My momma didn’t raise me right,

            But Florida Evans did. 

But part of will say “Have some pride.

Hide your passion, your willingness –

You are only what you decide to be!”

It’s not skin but pheramones –

what your skin encompasses

does not determine you.

My momma didn’t raise me right,

            But Florida Evans did. 

I know the difference

            between a darkening room and television;

I know desire does not begin

            with an upswelling of music –

more … people accepting what people are,

nature pulling against nature – completed in 30 minutes

letting situations become … Dy-no-mite.

My momma didn’t raise me right,

            But Florida Evans did.

And sometimes it is winning just to persevere –

resisting going to the common. Wait for the laugh.

Sometimes it is just waking up.

Sometimes it is just giving in.

My momma didn’t raise me right,

            But Florida Evans did. 

Ariel