I am not your “lil homie”
Nor your home
Nor your property.
Don’t poke me.
You don’t know me.
You don’t know where I’ve been.
You step to me
You step respectfully.
I’m nice until I’m not.
This is not a warning.
Matter of fact.
Check it!
I do talk back.
I’m willing to make time to converse or chat.
To understand the tongue others have been given.
Actions speak louder than explanations.
I pick my battles wisely
When it comes to ignorance.
I learned respect isn’t but a word
When others test my limits.
Respect is a two-way street.
How do I meet when I speak?
How will I live consistently–
When life if full of contradictions?
How will I strive to be my best
When others doubt my presence?
How will I rise
When the system was built to
Oppress my essence?
Second guessing
Question after question
How do I know it’s worth my patience
When I’m patiently waiting
Pacing back and forth
Tryna make sense of my worth.
How do I show respect
When it isn’t shown first?
How do I balance the happiness and the hurt?
How do I appreciate the loved and the lured?
How do I build respect and rapport?
How do I keep going
When I’m ready to give up?
When do I admit that enough is enough?
Do I believe in trust? or
Do I believe in luck?
Am I afraid to love? or
To be loved?
Where did I learn that from?
Am I a hoper or a dreamer?
A fighter or a schemer?
A kind-hearted greeter? or
An appreciative receiver?
How do I show respect?
Is respect understood when it is met?
Do I accept the worst? or
Pray for the best?
Do I respect myself?
Or settle for less?
Do I test?
Or do I let?
Do I enable the oppressor? or
The oppressed?
Do I want to learn more? or
Do I need rest?
Is respect what I expect to get?
In return–
Do I stand my ground firm?
Am I micro-aggressive stern?
Do I wait my turn? or
Do I use soft-spoken words?
I am sharing my lessons learned.
Respect is more than an action verb.
Respect is about vision.
How are you carrying out your mission?
C) 2017 Signature MiMi
