“Morena” by Aislinn Ramos

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.

 

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