White, Too, Is All Right

My first Dollie was white It sat on the lap of Papa's mahogany chair I looked closer and saw blue eyes A miniature mannequin, she was thin Was it a sin I stood not smiling? But turned within Filled with joy, the color of my skin was Cadbury brown My Christmas gift to me all along Dark girls I meet were pretty and sweet If they were poor, I loved them more My brother's first love was an Ebony dove She was the color of my love Nobody told me I was beautiful On our way to sea, I felt it A nappy haired doll; hand in hand With my teacher, Miss Daphne, on the pier I felt a touch, warm as Carib' breeze It was the arms of God saying I was His Of Her, my Jamaican Mama wedded to my Papa in Belize Where mahogany speaks Mys second dally was brown She made me smile, and lingered long peering into iris of her eyes It was deeper than colorism It was first pool my spirit plunged in It soothe my soul My friend, Denise Taylor was white Eyes the color of chocolate Her curls bounced gaily as we skipped to school Her mood I always savored, was jelly sweet treat She painted me a picture of light in all its glory. *