Words from my mother

Combing through knotted curly hair

One ear, Out the other

Phrases too hard to bear

Hardest part of the day

To me, this is so clear

Children go out and play

I'm the only black face here

Words from my mother

Tying my shoes

One ear, Out the other

Battles I chose to lose

Black is good

She'd always say

Yet, there I stood

And black I stayed

Words from my mother

Mirrors reveal ugly truths

One ear, Out the other

Other people see them too

Black is good

Black is divine

Yet, there I stood

I didn't feel fine

Now I am sixteen

The way time flies

I am still me

All the tears and goodbyes

The years go by

Counting the days

The Lord heard my cries

No longer am I a slave

Black is good

Black is grand

Yet there I stood

And here I stand

Words from my mother

Forever in my heart

One step after another

Here, my life can start