Dear Steve
I am no Eve
And have no deals with a snake
I am me
I don’t seek to be anyone else
I just aim to be me
I aim to be the me
Who needn’t crawl at the feet of men
In broad daylight as insults walk
On my face like its natural grounds
While the same feet kneel in front of my temple in the dark
Will I ever get that same respect in the bright face of the sun?
I just aim to be the me
Whose gaze will not interpret into disrespect
For humans
I just want to look into eyes without fright of offense
How wrong can that be?
I just aim to be no incubator or washing machine,
Neither a punching bag nor a slave
I just aim to walk seeing my own shadow
Without it being clouded by another’s
I just want my light to shine in the dark
Without winds holding hands to put me off
I just aim for veneration and reciprocation of my good deeds
What did I do so wrong?
Coming with a productive path
Instead of a walking stick?
The humiliation of forced submission
Must end in my world
The fire burning in me sure needs no quenching water
It aims not to hurt, maim or kill
It aims to light its path for me and others
Please do not see it a sign of sorcery
Condemn me not to the prison of societal thoughts
I just aim to be what I already am: human.
Mum Cee 