They will ask you to run,
and when you become the fastest
they will fear your lightning,
how it cracks ceilings and breaks
ground. They will place rules on your
body, say it’s a distraction from
their game,
as if they know better than you
how your bones should wear your own body,
how you should dress up in your own skin.
They don’t know why your hair
needs extra bobby pins, or how you got the
biggest booty in tennis,
something about Compton and collard greens. They will
not be graceful with your body,
but you will always have to be.
When they put you against
your own sister,
she’ll sharpen you.
Passersby will attack your
character,
Serena smashes racket,
point penalty,
violation,
how will she ever come back from this one,
she is too aggressive,
she has gone too far with her
clothing, how can Serena possibly regroup
from this, fight back,
women do not yell, women do not take
their shirts off, Serena loses the match and is fined
$17,000,+
we cannot allow her to get too out of control.
Women are not allowed real emotion
in tennis,
in the street,
in the office,
In their skin.Serena lean in
more power, use more power,
backhand,
back!
Backhand, Serena!
More More follow through!!
Take the net, Serena,
Be tuff,
be tuff.Act like you want to win.
Forward!
Forward!
Back,
Back,
Back,You got this Serena,
net,
netnet, Serena,
yes!
Power, Serena,
play to win!!
what does it feel like
to prepare your body for the
US Open,
Australian Open,
to be cut open.
And to still give them grace,
even when they call you names,
even when they paint your face,
you give them grace.
Without fear, doubt, or discomfort,
what else is there to overcome?You’re sport
Not spectacle
Woman before
Competitor
When they walk
You fly
When they grunt,
you roar.You are a fire
catching its breath.
You embrace failure,
never run from it.
We’ve already
watched you defy
gravity
but today,
today, you will become it.