You’ll find this poem on page 133 of Bum Rush the Page (The Def Poetry Jam book), published under my pen name in October 2001. Don’t forget to look up my bio in the back. :) photo credit: jepoirrier and i was Born. i imagine mama smiled and cried at the woes and joys of bearing female fruit her tears fell into my mind like rain watered the seeds she planted there pain pride beauty wisdom. i know she loved me strong cuz i evolved into the next version of her. her smile warms the fibers of my being where cotton grows in my guilty memory stained with strains of indigo. the sunshine reflected in her eyes shines on my soul, making more alive and as i grow older i am Born again and again.