She Needs A Lover Like You- A Poem

Tell me is this who You are in the comfort of Your skin

Would You proclaim these convictions that You've attached to Your lips

Like the lips of a lover You’ve loved a million times over

Or… Would You sing a different song

Would Your tongue twist and move

As it does right now

If You knew how to stand in awe of You

The full and unapologetic You

The one that feels most true

Or… Do You wear Your skin like a battle ground

Your own pretenses a sword leveled against You

A lone man's game of Russian Roulette

Filled with regret at the words You've spoken

The moments of silence You've chosen

The steps You’ve taken.. The ones You always seem to take

Those that keep Your feet stuck in infertile ground

Or... Do You wear Your skin like a crown

Scratches and patches of shine and all

Do You know how to sit still in Yourself

And allow Yourself to be

My child

We have a long road ahead of us

And not every path we take will be filled with light and roses

Some paths will be laden with broken mirrors

And sharp snares

But others will be like parted sea

A wall of water on both sides

As we traverse dry ground

And the comfort of Your skin

Will carry You through

Or... drag the waters down

Into Your deepest regrets

If the only comfort of Your skin You know is borrowed

From those You seek to impress

And never gains appreciation of its own

You would fail to see that the sea was parted in Your favour

If You see it at all

My child, wear Your skin like the best thing You own

And care for it more than You would the crown jewels

And all Your favourite pretences

As Africa walks towards a new dawn

She needs a lover just like You

To her carry her through...