Zahra Gordon

On the first day of Black History Month this year, Google celebrated the noted 19th-Century African & Native American sculptor, Edmonia Lewis, with a doodle. I was happy to see that she’d been chosen as an admirer of her work. I was first introduced to Lewis’ sculpture and heartbreaking life story while in college. I was even assigned to write a piece based on her art in one of my poetry workshops.

The poem was eventually published in phat’itude literary magazine and I’m sharing it here to commeorate the end of Black History Month and the start of Women’s History Month. One day, I hope to research and write more about Lewis’ life and progressive work. You can read more about her here: Edmonia Lewis: Google Doodle salutes pioneering sculptor to kick off Black History Month. See my poem below.

The Death of Cleopatra

For Edmonia Lewis, titled after the sculpture by the artist. 

this is how she died:

in the center of a king sized

bed

with her legs sprawled

mouth ajar

nails digging into

egyptian cotton

your name smeared in red lipstick

all over her face

still wanting

waiting…

you.

your name lingering

in the air

spewed from her last breath

you.

that is how she died.