Pardon me for my insecuritiesFor loving the taste of my words like a delicacyPardon me for falling in love with my hairMy hips my sway and my walk that makes a new melody with each stepPardon me for my smile sorry it’s so bright it’s been dim for a whilePardon me for my hands holding onto the image of me I think I amPardon me for finding my identityPardon me for losing my identityPardon me for losing the part of me that made you most comfortablePardon me for my blacknessPardon me for the melaninPardon me for the freedom march in my stridePardon me for the boycott on bus ridesPardon me for my pridePardon me for my stereotypical slouchy slang and glidePardon my French and my use of the word niggaPardon my hands and this tongue like a triggaI’m sorry I mean trigger which reminds mePardon me for my Ebonics this foreign language I speakThis creole on my tongue this African beneath my feetPardon me for my curves in this black woman posturePardon me for the strength that I got from my motherPardon me for the lioness buried beneath my skinPardon me for Negro spirituals buried deep within they go a little something like“ I looked over Jordan and what did I see coming to carry me home? A band of angles coming after me”It was my cry for freedom My ancestors sung about the Underground RailroadSo pardon me for living with this song on my tongue but I am searching for my freedomSo I can stop saying pardon me.