What are you thankful for?
NINA SIMONE DAYS
these are nina simone days
and chainsmoke of thinking freely daze
this is where the pleasure is always mine
yet you insist my silence is unbecoming
along with my petulant hair and lowercase stare
daintily climbing above your vulgar table
all barefeet and tiptoes in shades of indigo
i could care less
(pause)
then speaking ever so clearly
in my outrage only will the truth be told
obvious to any that it was not enough
to degrade me senseless
now, here, then, forever and ever and over again…
scrape the innocence off your boots
savor the moment and relish the taste
fine.
but now you want my luscious voice
dripping with cottoncandy adoration
flee now.
regardless of futility
as i am ready to turn the spin-table
attack with my serpent’s tongue
what will you do now that i have become
stronger than sinew and blood
flesh and wrath as one
by Natalie Boyle
