Bold Beauty

Smooth shea butter for my skin–

patterns of brown with traces of golden hues

and blonde hairs–

and coconut oil

for the wealth of hair

that struggles to mold underneath

my demanding and oppressed fingers.

Sticky mango drips from my

brown fingers and the wet, clinging juice

hugs my thick, pink lips,

and my skin tingles from the open sky–

the sun bright against the stubborn and bold melanin

in my sand colored skin.

My wide mouth tries to sound out harsh

and exotic words–

rhythm and soul in my timbre–

pushing against the heavily-voweled tongue

that refuses to budge–

marble-mouth and tongue dry

I shake my afro and boldly glare

at the stares that interrupt my journey to find myself.