the elder women know the banshee song
hold your head back, child
way back and open wide
breathe in real deep. and release
from the pit of your soul. and the
seat of your spirit. wail
like a banshee. announce
the coming death of what has invaded you
scream his name. full-throated
until your heart relinquishes the poisonous
seed he left behind. discarded.
purposefully abandoned
the one that seared its way
into the depths of your being
deep down. to your cursed ground.
where prayers go unanswered
and hurt and pain are watered by tears of sorrow
fertilized by the false truth
that you are over him
you unknowingly provided the breeding ground
and it took good root
established itself and birthed a forest
this is a soul purge, child. a necessary abolition
scream his name. until you can taste
your own liberation. until you can feel
the very essence of you. again.
scream louder, child
there’s a lot of uprooting to do
Tiffany Nicole Pigeé is a Black writer, lifelong poet, and creative storyteller. Her writing focuses on the human experience, life-induced trauma, complex relationships, self-love, loss, healing, and the generational effects of racial oppression. Tiffany is the author of the forthcoming On My Best Day (2021).
social media handles:
Twitter @HiTiffanyNicole
Instagram @sincerelytiffanynicole