by Khloe Henry
I’m sorry
I am sorry
I apologize that my skin is dark
Dark as the night sky tinted
with the moon’s light.
The moon is my light
My light shines
You can’t conceal my light
With your harmful word
With your anger
With your dark cumulative clouds
Accept me
For who I am.
Me.
Beautiful.
My wind is nonviolent
Like my ancestor’s march to freedom
Freedom to be me.
My mind is powerful
as is my wind
to blow away negativity
and be light.
To be light and float
on God’s accepting wing
to the promise
to be
Me.
Do not be afraid
that I am different
A shade darker should not
make a difference
to who I am.
I.
AM.
BEAUTIFUL.
*2014 Colorism Poetry Contest Division 2 Honorable Mention