Afeni
17" x 11"
Digital Print of Watercolor art
 
The poem, written by noteable poet Nikki Giovanni, commemorates the life of Afeni Shakur Davis, an American activist, businesswoman, and the mother of American rapper, Tupac Shakur. Nikki Giovanni has the original painting. 
 
Afeni
(b. 22 January 1947—d. 2 May 2016)
 
When my lover leaves 
our bed…it is colder
sometimes I turn
the blanket on and sometimes 
I just get
up. 
 
I used to wait
until our dog jumped
up to sit at my feet
which gave me some
thing to cuddle with
but as the dog got older
and couldn’t jump
I picked her up
though ultimately she decided to ascend
to Heaven to visit
with some of the other folk she loved
 
When the sun tucks in
the air is cooler
though it is only right
that night brings 
the soothing warmth
that puts us to sleep
the same could be said
of Winter pushing
Autumn into Summer’s embrace
 
Snow and ice will come
which is necessary for seeds
to grow
flowers to bloom
birds to nibble
so that eggs can hatch
but all change either
Right or Left
brings something cool
or certainly something missing
 
Afeni is not only
a cloud sheltering the sun
or the rain braising
the thirsty grass
 
She is also a season indicating change
 
She has ascended to the Heaven
to join those she loves
to brings the warmth to our souls
to help us
Grow
 
—Nikki Giovanni
 
 
 
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