The Dance and the Roar
On that day that Kamala became Vice President. The text came from her cousin in Austin, Texas. “CNN calls Biden President elect! Wins PA.” She sat on the sofa in her living room. The morning was a comfortable cool. She watched the video of Kamala talking to Joe. “We did it. We did it, Joe. You’re going to be the next President of the United States” And the tears rolled as the chills moved through her whole body. That day that Kamala became Vice President. Joe said, “We will heal this nation.” The thickness in the air lifted. She knew this country would be taken care of. When there is sickness you need that care.
The day that Kamala became Vice President she roared in the shower. A deep, long, layered roar. She hadn’t planned on the roar. It just happened as she was naked in the shower. She felt it deep in her belly. It was primal. A wail. A cry. Like when she came out of the womb. I am here. This grown woman let the young girl inside her roar. And then she heard the words of the young girl inside her. “I belong, I belong now. She looks like me.” The release of years of feeling and hearing,
“Just not you.”
“I don’t get you.”
“Dot or feather?”
“Injun?”
“Don’t speak perfect English like that. Chop it up a bit. Yeah like that. Bigger, Bigger. Thicker accent. Thicker. Thicker. Paki…
