My name is Shaunte' L. Montgomery and I am originally from Kansas City, Missouri. I am a second year graduate student at Kansas State University and plan to complete my Master of Arts in English--Creative Writing track, emphasis in Poetry--in May 2008. I received my Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Central Missouri State University in May 2005. I hope to pursue a teaching career upon graduation with urban youths, continuing my experiences with T.I.C.K. of greater Kansas City, where I facilitated several team building seminars, and Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools where I was a Servant-Leader Intern the summer of 2006.

He tucks her sepia-tinted
picture behind others
to hide the secret of her
auburn locks. How they kink
and recoil, resist fingered
strokes. By muted lamplight
he fondles her khaki-
colored skin, with sullied
fingers. Sugar-brown eyes at once
demure and coquettish
arouse prayers to a companied
god for rations of moans
from her immortalized lips.
Tours of years cannot replace
his sacred stimulations and holy
cries as he caresses her resin
coated breasts and believes
that she is at home,
while he is abroad,
in no man’s possession.