I Want To Be Like My Mother
I want to be like my Mother 
dark strong like blackest coffee
hands rough from digging in the Cotton fields
soles of my feet rough telling the story 
of how I got out of the Cotton fields
I want to be like my Mother
sweat Dripping from my forehead
down past my eye lids 
can't see my tears 
for I have no time for fear
I want to be like my Mother
Hunger pangs that linger into the night for there was no food
babies need to eat first
Momma will fast and quench her thirst
I want to be like my Mother
clothes of torn rags wrapped around my body, wrapped around my head
card board in the bottoms of my shoes
head held high enough to make even Versace blush
I want to be like my Mother
back arched knees raised singing a cadence "right foot, left foot"
marching on up north
God knows she had to sing 
Oh Freedom, Oh Freedom I said freedom
Let it ring, Let it ring
oh yes I want to be like my Mother
sleep by day 
so by night she could see her way
she would shoulder her 
body rippling with pain but she keeps on going for she must get far
eyes and ears to the wind guided by the north star
to get far, far away from Master's Plantation
yes I want to be like my Mother 
fire and brimstone
still keeping her memories alive in my Home
to assure that my Mother's legacy lives on and never will be forgotten
yes I want to be like my Mother 
the Queen of all women, the Mother of all Mothers
yes I want to be like my Mother 
A Strong Black Woman