from FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF

she waz sullen
& the rhinestones etchin the corners
of her mouth

suggested tears
fresh kisses that had done no good

she always wore her stomach out
lined with small iridescent feathers
the hairs round her navel seemed to dance
& she didnt let on
she knew
from behind her waist waz achin to be held
the pastel ivy drawn on her shoulders
waz to be brushed with lips and fingers
smellin of honey & jack daniels

-Ntosake Shange

Berklee’s poetry Walk was laid in October 2003 along Edison Street between Shattuck and Milvia Streets. The route includes 128 metal plates with excerpts from songs, each of which is related in one way or another to the city of Berkeley.

Excerpt from the play written by the African-American playwright and poet Ntosake Shange (1948-2018) (Paulette Linda Williams). As a black feminist, she promoted issues related to racism and black power in her work.
The play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When The Rainbow Is Enuf" from which the section was taken was the first play she wrote, in which in monologues accompanied by dance and poetry the writer describes the story of 7 women who experienced humiliation due to their gender and racism.

The connection between the section and Berkeley or California is not clear.