Latte Junkie

twelve years ago, under African sun,
I sweated under layers of fabric,
not quite white, I wasn't one to lie,
I sweated under the layers of responsibility
and the layers of shoulds, coulds and woulds

two years ago, under African rain,
I danced in the puddles,
flowers in my hair,
I sweated under the layers of responsibility
and the layers of shoulds, coulds and woulds

twelve hours ago, under timed lights,

I sweated under the pressure of trying to sink the ball,

laughing til I cried at crude jokes,

scattered amongst serious discussions on patriarchy

and the layers of shoulds, coulds and woulds

seemed to become what ifs...