Africa Mississippi

At first glance they are the same
could have shared a womb
one faces right, the other left
both moving their hands in unison
as they relay messages to their friends
both have birthmarks in between their shoulder blades
that lovers have often mistook as tattoos
one tattoo takes on the shape of Africa and the other Mississippi state

Now I have known a family of nine to each have
a different shade of brown
but when you look at these two
it is like the perfect blend
2 parts Kaluha
1 part toffee
delicately applied onto their frames
both naturally top heavy accompanied by thick thighs
most men dream of being between

Yes at first glance they are the same
But a closer look reveals the truth

Mississippi tattoo born and raised in Africa
running bare foot and care free along Lake Tanganyika
raised on corn meal, mangos and avacados as big as a newborn's head
the grasshoppers that she and her friends would catch were a delicious snack

Africa tattoo born and raised in Mississippi
running bare foot and care free along the mighty Mississippi river
raised on collard greens and sweet potato pie
she kept the grasshoppers she kept in a jar as her pet

These 2 sistas look the same
but Africa born calls Mississippi born a slave and believes that she will never be whole
Mississippi born calls Africa born dumb and stuck up
Africa born refuses to come down to Mississippi born level
choosing to believe that all she has to offer is ghetto
Mississippi born refuses to think of Africa born as a rich cultural mecca
vital to her development
instead opting to believe television images of pot bellied children with flies swarming

Mississippi and Africa - so much to learn from each other
Mississippi and Africa - refusing to acknowledge each other

Yes
At first glance
they are the same
could have shared a womb