for Mickalene Thomas
Mickalene Thomas (b.1971). Portrait of Qusuquzah #5, 2011,
Rhinestones acrylic, and enamel on panel 72~46 in., Art Bridges.
by Mahogany L. Browne
She don’t care about nothing &
Nobody unless you talking rent check
She Bonnie and buoy
She natural buffed nails & acrylic press ons
She snap her gum & chicken neck for the table
She feed a million
No one thank hers
She don’t give a damn
She don’t care none
She ain’t stuntin’ them
She too busy
bathing your babies
& burying her own
She too busy
Signing up voters
& still redlined out of her neighborhood
She too busy
Being
Breathing
Believing
A better day gonna come
Cause a better day be she
She too busy gardening
She too busy pastoring
She too busy baking beef patty
She too busy for the noise
I mean, she’s a prayer
Yea, she’s a pslam
Look at her glitter shadow
Check her flyy rise
See her soar
& know
She sees you judging her
She still let her mangoes hang
She still sip her tea slow
She blow sweet breath of life into the room
& create a anthem of of our dreams
Whew! She too damn busy living, baby
She too damn busy loving & frankly
She already done paid the price
of your toll
Poem copyright 2025 by Mahogany L. Browne. All rights reserved.
See other poems from Mahogany L. Browne debuted on The Fight & The Fiddle: “Cyclone,” and “I fell.”
Read more in this issue: Interview | Critical Essay | Writing Prompt