The Exhaustion of a Woman of Colour

As Taught To Me By My Mother & How I Still Find Myself Despite Knowing Better

Photo by Marcel Strauß on Unsplash

I know you see me.
I look “tired,” you say.
You have no idea,
As I nod politely.
No need to air my dirty laundry,
That’s what Mama always said.
Head up,
Don’t complain,
Onward,
Upward,
No telling tales out of school.
No weakness,
No time for that,
They’ll see it,
They’ll…