The sound of my mother's voice,

Reading words from crisp pages—

Eleanora E. Tate taught me to be proud

To be slow to judge and grateful for my life.

Virginia Hamilton whisked me away

In folk tales passed down like a legacy.

Toni Morisson showed me the beauty of words,

That classics don't have to be white.

Nikki Giovanni gave me fire,

The courage to say what's on my mind.

And Octavia E. Butler spoke to my heart

When she conquered the white man's world...

I will always stop to enjoy the sound

Of black words rising off white pages.