Praise to me drawing lines,

I only buy paper towels in bulk,

So off to the Sam’s I go,

when I got there my needs 

turned into a bottle of wine and two dresses 

for my about to be born granddaughter

and a pair of stretch pants for my daughter after delivery.

Praise to the cashier who carded me today.

I asked her if she did not see me standing here 

with all this gray hair in my hair?

Praise to black women. 

Praise to her response: I see you and it.

I also know young folks 

wear gray in their hair these days.

I said thank you for that compliment. 

Praise to her smooth easy way,

that did not miss a beat.

Grocery item. Check.

Compliment. Check.

Wisdom. Check. 

Praise to her gray hair.

Praise to her age: 70. 

Praise to her being comfortable in her own skin.

I know her age because she told me. 

She didn't look it.

She defied it

with the lightest of caramel hue.

I just said, "I love us. 

Love how we do." 

She smiled and said thank you too.

Praise to slick elders.

Praise to when like meets like. 

Praise to the pat on the back. 

Praise to being seen and seeing.

Praise to it don't take much 

and don't cost you nothin.

Praise to some people have jobs, 

other people on a mission.

Praise to the Vitamin D givers. 

Praise to the admiration and the uplift.