“GOTHS AREN’T BLACK”
BUT YOU’D STARE ANYWAY,
AND I CAN SMOKE TREE
BOP ON THE CORNER TO BLACK METAL
OR BASHMENT,
IN PLATFORM BOOTS OR NIKE BLAZERS
BECAUSE I AM STILL THE ONLY SPECTACLE
IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.
IT IS BRAIDS KNOTTED INTO NOOSES,
RINGS CAUGHT IN MY AFRO,
POISON FROM A PAPER-CUT MOUTH.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
I WANT TO ZACK FOX-UP YOUR DAY
SMACK THE TEETH OUT YOUR HEAD LIKE AIRPODS.
YOU EVER WONDER WHY BLACK GIRLS
NOD TO EACHOTHER IN PUBLIC?
BARE TEETH AND TOUCH ARMS?
IT’S BECAUSE WE KNOW SIS HAD
A HARD FUCKING DAY.
CRAMMED WITH PALE FACES
PINK FINGERS STARK BLANCHED WORDS.
SHE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BEAR YOU,
RAISE YOU BUT NOT HER VOICE, NOT HER FIST
THESE DAYS I WEAR ALL MY DARK ON THE OUTSIDE
LET HER KNOW THAT SHE DOESN’T HAVE TO
“SET HER FACE GOOD.”
BETTER TALK TO ME NICE OR DON’T TALK AT ALL
BECAUSE HELLO KITTY MIGHT SAY ACAB
BUT YOUR BOYFRIEND SAYS THE N-WORD.
MY MOTHER WAS THE ACE OF SPADES
AND PUNK WAS BORN BLACK,
DON’T GET STOMPED OUT
Kat Holmes is 23 and as per has no idea what’s going on. Follow her writing @katswritingabook