Live for You

by Imani Black

You tell me to ease my mind to play to breathe deep

 You tell me to read and to write and to learn to love

 But my body cannot can not lift itself up cannot drink the water or take the pills cannot dance or care

 You tell me I can that I’m beautiful 

But I am unwell and the salt stings my eyes and bloats my face I refuse to eat or smile 

I don’t know how 

You try to be kind positive lighting my fireworks with your fire 

You tell me to think of my future To connect stay focused to grow 

Take risks and really live pace myself to trust I cannot spend another year ignoring what you tell me

 Surrounded by lace, mini skirts, gold little bags

 Wishing on sunsets for a pair of eyes to look back at a hand to hold 

Walk across my sandy shore take me home 

Pink hearted bikinis climbing rock walls 

Pearly pure gold hanging from seashells blonde hair tucked behind with long white nails 

Scared in stores lined with jewelry I will never wear 

Different from the blue Italian cloth flowing skirts stacks of silver 

They tell me to crack open sour candies sit down calm down be quiet be nice 

but i don’t live for them i live for you