I was raised by the smell of lavender 

make you run through fields 

kind of smell

Blanket you in warmth and calmness 

and be told “everything is gonna be alright”

kind of smell

Pretty is pain kind of knowledge 

some hairspray and pray away

the pain

kind of knowledge 

Some starving artist passion

believe and be anything

kind of pressure 

Some “who am I?” “Who are you?”

kind of questions

”what’s black” “what’s white”

kind of questions 

I was raised by bad decisions

buy new shoes looking fly

no electricity no waater

kind of decisions

i was raised with 

“I love you to the tippy top”

affirmations

i was raised on

Destiny’s Child

“Say My Name”

girls against the world

female empowerment 

“I can do Bad all by myself”

kind of independence

i was raised on

spicy tofu

fiery and warm

instead of mash potatoes and gravy

i was raised to only celebrate holidays 

that deserved to be celebrated 

i was raised by education is needed

for my future

being pretty is key

to gaining power

in this world

kind of advice

i was raised by feeling circles

and truth talks

”one love one life”

kind of lifestyle 

i was raised by contradictions 

no eating meat

but wearing fur

kind of vegetarian 

i was raised

by the world

and my surroundings 

taught to be open and caring

but closed and protective 

I was raised by 

one woman

and one family