soft magic.

by Upile Chisala

here you are, black and woman and in love with yourself. you are terrifying. they are terrified. (as they should be).

all the lovely women living in your blood are trying to teach you their soft magic, please pay attention to them.

I must warn you, there is soft juju at work in my thighs.

To the mothers who fed us poems till our bellies had no room for self-doubt, thank you.

6. Remember to remain gentle. 7. Don’t stay angry at the world too long. Seek out life in little things and move past sadness.

Little boys with sunshine in their giggles are being mistaken for men because their bodies were built like those of warriors. (for the moon-high baby boys of color who are still growing into their warrior bones. You are little. You are loved)

your grandmother told you “you become a woman the day you can take heavy words and grind them till they are honey”