“Bag lady, you gone hurt your back
Draggin all them bags like that...”

Bag lady
I carry them under my eyes
Muscles weakening no longer supporting all of the baggage I carry
The weight on my shoulders as I drag them down the streets
Bag, lady
You see her, but she cannot see herself
Lids filled with fluids, puffy
Trying to cover it up
Make up, cached up
But she cannot hide it
She keeps it inside shit
She internalizes every bit
Of every situation
Her skin, black
Her back, strong
Her spine no longer aligned from all she has bore
From all that she has stored
In those bags
...lady
She’s a, baaad lady
Sometimes sad lady
Sometimes angry black woman mad lady
But she walks with a poise as she strides in length
She talks with a voice of power and strength
She is learning to be free and leave her bags behind
But even in time, those bags under her eyes will constantly be a reminder
Of her
And all that she endures
A heart so pure, but heavy with burdens
A mind knows the signs but never too certain
Bag, lady
Let it go
Baaad lady
Let it alllll show
Sad, lady
Let your tears flow like the ocean
Angry black woman mad lady
Let your rage be your explosive
Step up and take control of
You

“I guess nobody ever told you, all you must hold on to. Is you, is you, is you...”