what will you do

each man taking you

in a different way,

will you sit talking to one,

late nights studying

or confessions shared, a similar

way of feeling,

and when you want to make love

is there only one whose touch

causes a trembling in every nerve and is answered,

is there only one

you devote yourself to

though you never see him just that one

who knows how to make you love him?

what will you do?

wipe your hands on your apron,

a back porch

everyone's slept on,

ten yelling children

who don't look alike.

——

Wendy Shaffer

Shopping Center

Your momma saw me

towering over you, arms folded,

while your little potato-colored hand

stroked the stiff, blonde hair on that

teen doll.

You touched and stroked those straight stiff strands

on that doll again and again

and I saw only opened-mouth, wideeyed envy

in that light brown, small face of yours.

Later, in another store,

we both saw you reach out to touch

--but you didn't dare--

the blonde curls on the girl

beside the toy-counter.

Instead you smiled when she looked at

you

then followed her around

staring at the toys

she'd a fancy to handle.

So I wasn't convinced

when still later, your momma returned my scowl

with a nervous smile

and made that half-dubious remark:

"I used to think it was a problem; But, you know, some white kids want soft,

woolley hair, just like my baby has."

—

Ode to Mary Ann

Shine On,

Dutiful Daughter (they love you for it)

Remember?

"A moment on the lips forever on the hips"

(Yes, girlbody, they love you for it)

And shine on into that fruit salad and the weedfree garden --they love you for it

Haven't seen Him in four days?

(you bought the right cereal

you made that bed)

Shine on Dutiful Daughter

(they love you for it)

Continue to shine on

cause you got

no cause

in

loving yourself

--Azalea

Homage to American Womanhood (a footstool)

a woman alone

and afraid

(that common expression)

her thousand sisters assembled

individually a-d apart

tired of a day barely begun

but already sung

a hundred times

to different daily dawns

so alike

and separated only

by a shadow

Beryl M.A. Khabeer

HUMANITY PROJECTED

I know I'm only one existence, but my needs are many.

Can you support me?

I desire to give, I can understand, and I need to take.

Will you support me?

I can't subdue with good thoughts the rage in my mind that you've not seen or known.

The burn in my heart of deaths given and loves taken is too scarred for salve.

But if you can share the closeness that I feel in

you now--

And keep warm your sight as we gaze within, So near to ourselves will come tonight That we'll both be able to believe,

once again.

-Jan Held

Margaret Mary Miller

October, 1977/What She Wants/Page 5