painted my fingernails
black that afternoon in
bright new sun.
smiled not knowing yet
what it would mean to me
later that
night.
i always thought having
sex with a black man would
make a new mixture, the two
colors together, sort of like
a cup of sweet chocolate
milk.
wrong! i was wrong! colors
they clashed in beautiful
rays. i can only explain
it by showing my fingernail
polish so dark against pale
white skin, contrast so
gorgeous i might repaint
my nails every day.
Originally published April 2007 - "Dirty"