TONI BROWN

"for toni brown.. my first poetry mentor at age thirteen, with whom this book project began.. thank you for taking your time with me.. for meeting me on weekends at barnes n nobles and telling me my poetry was worthy.. thank you for watching over me.. for giving me my first copy of for colored girls, from which i still teach.. thank you for teaching me to “[find] god in myself and.. [to] love her fiercely..” thank you for those words on your obituary.. for your audacity to affirm that god lived within a black woman like you.. like me.. i know your soul is resting in clouds of poetry.. thank you for still reminding me you’re proud of me.."

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dr. reelaviolette botts-ward, mourning my inner[blackgirl]child, 2021