Selfish
/adjective
It is when my whole body is shut down
because my mouth refuses to speak
on behalf of all the members
of my body how each organ
wishes to to be worshipped
Selfish
is when my legs doesn’t consult my
brain but walks me to the
door of unrequited love and
forbids my heart to plead not
guilty of bondage
because redemption is just like
the defendant who never showed up
in the court room
there is nothing selfish
about bargaining for a price
of love you are willing to purchase
and no one has ever
taught you the otherside
of selfishness
so you applaud and wrap
medals around the lungs
of those who
will deny themselves
of every right to live,
thrive and survive
in exchange of their own
privilege and compass that
points to love
love as a birthright
but this birthright will never ever
be exchanged for a piece of any flesh
even if it was a spiced morsel containing
all the world’s kindness as long as
it has no bearing in my own soul
you have been taught that self love
is an expensive fragrance
and you can’t buy it alone
and you can’t handle it alone
without inviting someone else
to be the master of ceremony
of a party of one
a party that had only your name
and yours only
a party where you don’t tremble
to hold your rose because you are
learning to be comfortable
with your thorns
and you have every right
to ask for stars to be planted
under your feet
if it’s stars you want
you don’t know a selfish heart
darling
you don’t know it one bit