Angels made of charcoal outlines (For the little girl who was told she was too dark to be human)
Location
There was a time in this country it was a sin to be black,
when limp bodies dangled like bloated, forbidden fruit
and ‘coon’ was considered a pet name.
Darling of mine, don’t let them scare you
they are afraid of the rumble in your bones,
the universe of brilliance spinning at the tips of your fingers.
When they say things like,
“You’re beautiful…for a black girl”
you see, they are not just colorblind
ignorant that it is your skin cradling their white stars in the sky,
when they try to say you are just a slave’s bastard child
you tell them, no get it right,
my ancestors carried your nation’s root on our backs
with hands rich with soil from the promise land.
Your skin descended from the survival of rape and scorched earth
from all that charred and burnt flesh
we grew flowers and the world anew.
You tell them:
you are no one’s cattle
you are the one who survived
We are the ones who survived and carried on.
Comments
Login or register to post a comment.
SophieSmasher
this is beautiful!
Mafi Grey
Amazing
jujumurray
this is so amazing and powerful!
Stephanie D.
You are brilliant. This poem is inspiring.
braidlocs
that's a very powerful message that should be told... I enjoyed your poem please keep writing
blurredROSESSS
Very well written!!!
dalia.m.mckenzie
That was beautiful. I didn't even realize I needed to hear (read) that. Thank you.
Hippolyta
Very well written! Good job.
Never Royal
This poem is amazing and truly stays with you. great job :)
btesh
This is beautiful, really.
Martini94
Very beautiful and powerful imagery
Karis Elle
This is beautiful. Your use of words and images is amazing and inspiring.
How.About.No.
This poem was powerful and uplifing and i can't wait to read more from this poet!
GGicefire
I know we have a history
Of being torturers.
But not every one.
I can't hold anything against you
Knowing that you have a million times
As many truths within you
As I have ever had
Because you have reason to find them.
My appearance makes me a respected torturer.
I wish otherwise.
I wish no appearance could change a girl's soul in others' eyes.
I wish that everyone knew as much as you do, as I might someday.
Many people say things, horrible cruel things,
Just because they can.
To convince themselves that they are superior.
Snatch those miserable untruths from their lips.
You have skill. I wish you luck.
Go, righteous stranger.
Go, and prove them wrong.
ScorpioD91
Your poem is phenomenal! The title is enticing, the words are beautiful, and the poem is dauntless.
JanusX92
Absolutely beautiful. Great job, and definitely a wonderful delivery.
K. Noelle
Why can't I favorite these things.. Is there a way to favorite these things? I'm going to find a way to favorite these things.
funinthesun17
This is beautiful!! It is so inspriring and mind opening.
gamino.r
Wow!!!
Snaps to you that was very powerful
Yes, I really liked this
samiamehbub17
This is wonderful. You are the one who fought this world for peace. You are the action.
ken5zee
This is absolutely amazing.
sierrasunrose
you packed so much emotion into a one minute poem - this is incredible, and so moving and powerful. congrats on the win, you absolutely deserved it.
jacob morris
great poem! and yes it is very inspiring, i read this as if reading a story this is great keep it up!
butterflyblackwings
This is such an exceptionally well-written and powerful poem.
ChaotiCleverity
This is truly beautiful.. *applauds*
KINGDOMBUILDER
#Snaps&#claps#Yesss!!..#Awesome#sauce lol
asyri20
love it , this really spoke to me and gave me confidence
clari.nellie
This title is absolutely brilliant!!!!!
kaitlynmcnab
*snaps for YEARS* this was outstanding. Outstanding.