Raising Sons

I am woman
From the strands of my hair to the tips of my toes
I am raising sons to be men in a world not sympathetic to my woes
Sons,
I am raising sons from my breast, to my knees, to my hips, to towering over me
I am raising sons,
Raising sons from an image of what a man is suppose to be
My father raised by his father, his father, his father and his father
Symbolic of strength, intellect, love and family
No instructions included, no theories proven right
Just a woman raising sons gloved for fight after fight
With stereotyping, profiling and the system
I’m raising sons to be strong black men, not victims
Men with conquering minds, hearts of love,
Who walk in the footsteps of righteousness
Whose calloused hands mold, shape and create,
I am raising sons
Raising sons from little black boys to strong black men
I stand firm and mediate,
Though I am woman
The seeds I sowed excluded the wo-
And came up man
Sons,
Handsome black sons raised by woman.