Born In The Wrong Skin

The world had judged it all already,
By the time I took my first breath
Soft and small.
With a name, face with a deeper shade,
History was written before I could speak.

I saw doors lock before mine feet,
I never saw inside, not even a peek,
Told away, as soon as my face was spotted.
I stretched my hands, they pulled away fast,
You would think I spread the worst case Ebola.

Whispers were cold among eyes that lingered
But Mama’s reassurance, was love so tender.
She did her best to caution me from pain,
But it poured intently, like acid rain.
With the shade of my skin, there was a price to pay.

In hushed refrains, lessons came-
“polite, you always should be, never show your pain.
Be intelligible, never play wild,
Be respectful, even to their child.”
Life sometimes felt nothing short of protocols.

Though trauma lingers deep and wide,
I refuse to be the shame they see
I refuse to apologize, I refuse to shrink,
On my feet I shall stand, I will shine,
For I am a story too strong to deny!