a love poem to my sister scholars

i had felt it in my body first
that something was different that day
that something was happening

the stars are aligning

it was a familiar feeling
like we had known each other
in another life.

“O” embodied a human “glow” for me then
found myself drawn to her
eager to learn from her
and share the space of her brilliance
Today, she continues to radiate joy
laughter
and a kind of fierceness that i find contagious

“L”: a hidden gem
the epitome of
grace
kindness
and compassion
a champion of pedagogies of
care
love
and play
doing the work of a good ancestor

we planted ourselves elsewhere
shared one another’s company for hours
our words flowed out like warm molasses

i am in a circle with sisters
sisters who make me laugh through my belly
sisters who help me forget
shift my mindset
that I was ever labeled a “quiet student”
who needed to say more, do more, be more
sisters who remind me that
            I belong
            We belong
            We’ve been doing all right all along
we are right where we should be
here in the academy
sister scholars sitting side-by-side
in our sister circle
refusing “how we should be”
it’s our time to dream on
and set ourselves free