the stories all around me
united by shame and honesty
these layers that cover me
like blankets on a cold night
i know my skin is stuck to my bones
& my soul comprised by this skin
why do you act like it’s yours?
defining the limits of my identity
appropriating opportunities
policing my tongue so it can move to your frequency
dances around in my mouth
the choreography initiated by you
under the umbrella of shame
shame building stages where my tongue can dance
where my tongue can be showcased,
there is no chain tying up my tongue
i carry this shame in my tongue
“the power of language, of words, of silence”
in the way it moves to please you
in the way it awkwardly dances in my mother tongue
in the way i stop the dance when the lights are on
how hurtful is it to see the pain in your eyes when our tongues don’t move at the same rhythm
how hurtful is it to see the pride in your eyes when our tongues move at the same rhythm
reminiscing about the 1804 liberation
it started in which internalized white dominance was already creating division
among the pride in reclaiming what was ours we lost bits and pieces
my ancestors are still in and around me
the fight for freedom remains
in all the ways it manifests itself
including the tip of my tongue
d a n c e | a n n e - a u d r e y
kaledo-art
romaincrisis
origamiaround
yousharknotpass