Marks of time left
on me like prints of
feet in the sand
every feature of mine
has a print of a hand
darkness in my skin
has the prints of African kings and queens
the kink in my hair
 shows the strength I bare
pride in my eyes
are the handprints of
slaves that fought and died
the broadness of my nose
the fullness of my  lips
the curve of my breasts
the roundness of my hips
are all prints that time left
the muscles in my back
legs
  and arms
show the labor of
slaves working day and night
in the fields and farms
Every feature of mine
has a print of a hand
Marks that time left
on me like prints of
feet in the sand
A mind for creations and
inventions
that defy descriptions
 hand prints,
of great builders,
the Egyptians.
writing
inscriptions
who's intentions
were simply to house
their royal
a tomb above ground
not baried in soil.
Hand prints that shape
the history of my people
prints that mold the land
prints that come only from
                black hands.