Morena
By: Aislinn Ramos, 2nd Place Youth Poetry Division
morena, they call me
dark skinned girl
proud of her culture
american in her speech
i wonder if they actually meant it
morena, abuela calls me
beautiful girl
even more beautiful
if my father married lighter
i wonder if she actually meant it
morena, titi calls me
i love you, mama
remember no matter how dark
at least you aren’t black
i wonder if she knew what she did to me
morena, mami tells me
my gorgeous black girl
did you know you were loved
by the sun, you were born
it’s embrace is what made you
you are the brightest, mama
shining light with your eyes
you are the darkest, mama
engulfing la tierra in your wake
you are everything i tell you
you are everything i don’t
you are loved, mama
you are love, mama
my morena
About the Poet: I am a first generation Afro-Caribbean American, my father being from Puerto Rico and my mother from Dominican Republic. All my life there has been a struggle present within myself, my family life, and my community concerning my skin and my heritage; something too complex to describe in a few sentences. This poem is my way of acknowledging the toxicity that has surrounded me my entire life, but knowing that truly I am loved and that I have that love in my life. I will be attending Campbell University in the fall as a Music Education major, but plan to continue my writing nonetheless.