my fire is not for symbolism
for your joint or cigarette

it is to make me a martyr for the war
the fight forced on those on the bottom
of the color wheel

my fire is not for symbolism
for white women to try and put out
with their tears made of punishment
and pride

it is for brown and black girls
who have never seen a way out
who have never had guidance

my fire is not for symbolism
for your hands to caress
tell me my skin looks so smooth
my curls make me look Latina

it is for those less palatable
who might die
a shade closer to the truth

of those denied the right to freedom

my fire is not for symbolism
for your nightly news program
to call the barbarians of the world
those who don’t look like you

to make you afraid of your neighbor.

it is for the children
that i will never have
because doctors are the Black women
what cops are to Black men.

It is for my dad
who will never get to tell me
his story

it is for all the things you promised us

– Alexis Raymond