I didn’t know

that my core was silky brown melanin

my hair dark, opulent essence

royal skin filled open pores relevance

that became the hindering truths

until I grew up?

I didn’t know

that my core was bleached on fumes

my hair long golden blooms

and my skin porcelain views

that became the hindering truths

until I grew up?

I didn’t know

my regal descendants’ presence

corn rows, weaves, fros of excellence

boisterous curves filled with leads

that became the hindering truths

until I grew up?

I didn’t know

that my language was unspoken

in lands foreign to my birth token

in varied shades of browns, whites, yellows, and blacks

until I grew up?

my knowledge basic arithmetic words

translating with each passing year into forms

even though I still bled in red, smiled in no language

took a breath in the same air

drank water from the same womb called earth

I didn’t know, I was different

until one day I grew up?