Who Has Your Stuff?

This is a poem written by Poet Nzotange Shanke. I first heard it when it was featured in Tyler Perry's 2010 Drama- For Coloured Girls.

It's a reminder to never let anyone get away with the essence of who you are. You are all you have. Love yourself enough to walk away from harmful situations before you're gotten away with- like this poem literally says.

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Here's the poem:

Somebody almost walked off with all of my stuff

And didn’t care enough to send a note home saying I was late for my solo conversation

Or two sizes too small for my own tacky skirts

What can anybody do with something of a nobellier on an open market?

Did you get a dime for my things?

Hey man, where are you going with all of my stuff?

This is a woman’s tripping, I need my stuff to ooh and aaah about

Honest to God! Somebody almost ran with all of my stuff

And I didn’t bring anything but the kick and sway of it

The perfect ass for my man and none of it is theirs

This is mine…Phemelo’s own things,…

That’s my name now give me my stuff

I see you hiding my laugh and how

I sit with my leg open sometimes to get my crutch some sunlight

This is some delicate leg and whimsical kiss

I gotta have to get to my choice

So you can’t have me unless I give me away

And I was doing all that till you ran off on a good thing

And who is this you left me with? A bad attitude

I want my things, I want my Oooh with a hot iron scar,

I want my leg with the flea bite, yeah I want my things

I want my caloused feet and quick language back in my mouth

I want my own things how I love them

Somebody almost ran off with all of my stuff

And I was standing there looking at myself the whole time

It wasn't spirit that ran off with my stuff

It was a man who’s ego won’t drown like road ants shadow

It was a man faster than my innocence

It was a lover I made too much room for almost ran off with all of my stuff

And the one running with it, don’t know he got it

I’m shouting this is mine and he don’t , and he don’t even know he got it

My stuff is the anonymous ripped off treasure of the year

Did you know somebody almost got away with me!

Me! in a plastic bag under his arm, Me! Phemelo Motona!

Somebody almost walked off with all of my stuff!