(for Rhoda Kadalie)
by Abu Bakr Solomons
When you speak about me
after my death
speak about me
not yourself
say how I am missed
for things you didn’t like
don’t sanitize my memory
by outlining only my virtues
let me stand between you
and the line that divides us
just as I was, authentic, not
some polite version of me
tell the people how obnoxious
I was at times, even offensive
how I hated safe superficiality
political correctness
Speak about me, not what
you think you should say
about me, to satisfy protocol
talk about all of me
if you want to remember me.