Welcome to Labrys, your student-run art and literature collective of Smith College.

Inspired by The Watermelon Woman (1996) dr. Cheryl Dunye

On the streets of brotherly love, I’ve found no brother I want to love. I enjoy the love of a sister. I enjoy dark meat. I am what I eat. I like black coffee and Southern Sweet tea. True to the rules of the game. I am what I drink, too.

AC don’t work. Came in late so no lunch break. White girl watching me. Watching me stack titles on the shelves. Says, “It’s hot.” Says I look hot, Says I look hungry. In her brown bag: lemon water, water crest, water crackers, and watermelon. I’m polite. I say, “No, thank you.”

She steps in front of the fan. Fan blowing hot air. I avoid it. White cotton blouse on the white girl. Low buttoned, barely buttoned. Teases me in the hot breeze. Exposing her creamy, freckled white skin. She knows I see. She’s watching me.

I was born and raised in the North. She lives in the upper Northwest. The walk. I am hot. I am hungry. I order a cherry water-ice and a pretzel. No salt. No mustard. I think that’s best. She says, “I got it. My treat.”

White girl cute. She plays with her keys. Anticipation. She’s intentional. AC working in the Northwest. I am hot. I am hungry. The walk, though. My legs. I fall. Face first. Into her melon. Her water. Like summer rain. The coolness. Aaaahhhh.