ismi

by Suheir Hammad
from Born Palestinian, Born Black

please
learn to pronounce
the name of my spirit
the spirit of my name
correctly

and don’t complain
it’s too throaty
too deep
too guttural

begin it in your gut
let it tickle the back of your throat
warm under tongue
let it perfume your breath
smooth your lips

and release it
round my hips
clearly