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?
The Grind 