to
those
skinny black girls
I see
pushing strollers
downtown:

am I allowed
just for a second
to say
that I get you?

I get you

at least more
than I get
those
eastside girls

I see
pushing
strollers
on sunset blvd

with men
holding
diaper
bags

and
purses

on the way
to brunch

I see you over there
walking down San Pedro
with a couple of kids
in one of those cheap
umbrella strollers
they sell at rite-aid

you see me over here
walking down San Pedro
with a couple of kids
and a borrowed dress
from urban outfitters
that I say
is vintage

I feel you
check me
out
eyeing the
baby on my hip
and wondering
why I’m
here

you feel me too
check you out
embarrassed

we see our
babies and
we scan our
bodies

we pass
inspection
and smile
at each other
proud
of
the shape of
our thighs

we’ve lost
so many things
in this fire

but not these!

I want to tell
you
that you are
beautiful

but I don’t
and I won’t

you nod at
me though
and
I feel like a
country peasant
just touched
by the
queen

a man
peeing
in the street
holds his penis
with one hand
and
proposes
to us
with the other

as if we are one

we refocus
our attention
on our own
bodies

don’t worry
though
I know
you win this

but I’ll
keep it real
for you
anyways

until next
time