Mama tents

To all my babies who
died out in the streets
or in the jails.
Due to my scars
deep down I wipe
my eyes with tissue.
I wanted to be
a natural mother
but I’m still able
to love someone else’s
child no matter how
society labels me.
This is an issue
for the hard-headed
people when they
call me Mama Tents
when they greet me.
I feel so good when
I can stop something
law enforcement cannot
they can be tough
as nails but they
love me no matter
how I smell.
I’ve seen a lot
of my people
come and go
and a lot of them died
which don’t make no
sense to me.
I pray for them
because I am still
Mama Tents.