“Powerful Souls” by Adisa Grant
September 27, 2024
I hold my fist tight
And my knuckles won’t hurt less
Even if I continue to hurt more
I’m ‘too old’ to be every part of myself
But I’m ‘too young’ to aim for the goals I know I can achieve
I’m ‘too Black’ to be so smart
Yet ‘not Black enough’ to be acknowledged
But that’s okay
Because your endless daggers may pierce my skin
But if I bleed
The part of me I don’t lose in the pool of crimson liquid
Is my pride and is my soul
It is my beautiful
Intelligent
Reserved
Powerful Black soul.
This poem was written by Adisa Grant, a 2024-25 Youth Poetry Fellow. Performed at the Seattle Arts & Lectures Poetry Series event with Danez Smith at Town Hall Seattle on Friday, September 27th, 2024.