stay sweet

the women who made me

i come from two women

who stitched heaven into my name

two women whose strength

didn’t need volume

to set the whole world aflame

my grandma

the one with the voice like warm sugar cane

the accent that held stories

the ocean could never contain

she taught me that quiet can conquer

that dignity doesn’t waver

that a woman can change her whole life

with the softness in her favor

and my granny

the one whose love wrapped around me

like a shield and a sunrise

the woman who saw every version of me

through gentle, knowing eyes

she taught me that tenderness heals

that joy can return after sorrow

that you can lose pieces today

and still be whole tomorrow

two women

two prayers

i feel them behind me

hands on my spine

whispering

go head girl, we prayed you into this

and now

every step i take forward

is them doing what they did best

lifting me

loving me

leading me on

teaching me i’m rooted enough to stay

and brave enough to move on

i come from women

who carried galaxies

in the lines of their faces

women who knew storms

and still chose to transform

women who taught me

that breaking isn’t failing

it’s how you rebuild strong

i rise for them

through them

because of them

with them

their lessons in my marrow

their strength in every bone

i stand in light

of everything i’ve become

i speak it proud and full and true

i am the granddaughter

of two extraordinary women

and they still rise

every time i do

reminding me always

stay sweet

-asiha celeste

Dedicated to Willie Ann Drummond (below) and Princess Eversley