Dark Skinned Vs Light Skinned

In our Asian-cum-Eastern land
No one prefers or admires
the dark-skinned or tanned

Gosh, as if the fair-skinned alone
belonged to the so-called fairer sex
And here, 'black is beauty' a phrase unheard
All falling for the light skinned almost in reflex! 

Bachelors on the hunt for a non-fictional Asian 'Snow-white'
Even an ugly heart will do if the skin is white, pale and light

For them lighter skin tis brighter and better at beauty
even if superficial and skin-deep
The dark-skinned maidens thereby left single to weep

But while the ebony dark- pigmented
go on applying whitening and lightening creams
The white Westerners frequented
the sunlit beaches for dark tans from sun beams! 

So in westerners females wish to look browned and tanned
Thus the opposite is preferred
so to that end they may sun bathe for hours on beach sand

Ah and though from the point of view of my motherland 
I am luckier that God chose
to model me from a peachy whiter lighter clay, 
I still feel this tug-of-war between complexions
needn't really join the fray.

For when you and I glance at Naomi Campbell
we know beauty can be white, brown and black as well
Like love, beauty knows no colour, creed or race
As  proved by this gorgeous black supermodel.
Besides, we all have come across
both dark-skinned angelic saints
and fair-skinned folks with sinner's taints

Ah, Black Beauty, or Fair and lovely
Beauty has never known any bounds
For God He distributed beauty rather equally
No argument can last on these grounds

Oh, a soulmate's inner beauty ought to be earnestly sought
Too bad lustful passions fall for those merely outwardly hot!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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12
U.D Palawon  Avatar
August 31, 2022 at 12:51 PM
God made difference in skin color for a purpose which is to test human's intelligence from animal....Great writing. :)
Seeker Avatar
March 1, 2022 at 9:05 AM
Such is how it is … until we become aware to see neither colour nor gender but God in-dwelling all forms. Thanks for sharing!
De Beaulieu Avatar
October 22, 2021 at 11:44 AM
HelloS. Zaynab Kamoonpuri, I agree awesome! God made us all differently and he made us to have our own beauty. It does not matter the skin color we are all beautiful the way we are. I am color blind to to some colors. I feel people should get along no matter what. Blessings my friend.
Ellison Avatar
July 30, 2021 at 4:26 AM
I am color blind!!!!!!!!
Proxenos Avatar
February 22, 2021 at 4:20 AM
Awesome write Zaynab. We went to Zambia - my father applied to go there, he was an Army Officer. I went to the Dominican Convent and it was so equally fair in color creed and nation I had two best friend one white, Jane and one very dark and beautiful from Malawi Beatrice. She often came to spend a weekend with us. I loved my friends and as fate would have it- the three of us got along famously. I've never tanned - skin cancer. I enjoy your poems my friend Hugs Jennifer be blessed.
Lindley Avatar
February 20, 2021 at 5:08 AM
A very astute and wondrously composed piece! As we are all humans, no race is superior. We are separated by language, by distance, by culture, by religion and by a host of other differences and things. Yet we are created by God as equals. Your fine poem illustrates that truth. And a fav.. God bless..
Hinshaw Avatar
February 19, 2021 at 10:48 AM
Splendid verse, S.zaynab. Beautifully phrased! Best to you as you continue your poetical journey and many thanks for your kind comment re me The Sounds of Freedom - Bob H
May Avatar
February 19, 2021 at 8:54 AM
Beauty comes in all colors.. Nicely expressed...
Carber Avatar
February 18, 2021 at 9:32 AM
Nicely put-- and yes, humans are never satisfied! In the mid-70's I was sitting on Kuta Beach in Bali next to a beautiful Balinese woman who pointed to my white skin and said beautiful while I pointed to her lovely brown skin and said, 'no,no, you're beautiful!'
Al-Khalili Avatar
January 24, 2021 at 10:16 AM
Beautiful poetic illustration of a topic that scopes psychological socio-cultural understandings of race, beauty, and culture. Thank you for commenting on my Little Poem Series. I appreciate you.
Scott Avatar
January 7, 2021 at 7:14 PM
Black and white are shades opisit ends of the spectrum mix togeathet a whole spectrum of beatiful colours its not about whete your from or whete your at more where your goong to wheather white or black were all the same me and you its not about race or creed were all fom the same place and all the same we bleed l dont judge on ones reflection the colour of there skin more the colour of there soul personality whats within lovly poem great wording xx
Fowler Avatar
January 1, 2021 at 9:50 AM
Great insight Zaynab, and beautifully penned. Self esteem and beauty are within - often unseen by self or others. Have a very blessed new year! Linda
Kavanagh  Avatar
December 31, 2020 at 3:21 PM
Great write Zaynab, my own personal penchant is mainly elegance, skin color is unimportant, I never knew Indian men preferred lighter skin females, Michael Jackson thought he looked better white, although he totally messed up, especially his mind, fantastic thought provoking poem, I’ll have to investigate further, cheers David
U.D Palawon  Avatar
December 17, 2020 at 9:25 AM
Ahhh...that's so true, .. for indians Fair is godliness...even deities are depicted as fair skinned while the demons are dark... unfortunately men are stuck to that still today...beauty is fair skinned to them while dark ones are taken mostly for convenience. Revealing writing...thanks for sharing.
Babcock Avatar
December 5, 2020 at 4:40 PM
Skin color does not matter. I enjoyed your very creative write which reminds us that beauty comes from within.
Marcum Wong Avatar
December 2, 2020 at 10:23 AM
Skin color shouldn’t matter but sadly it does to many. My husband is part Hawaiian and in the sun his skin became very dark. I thought him very attractive not only because of his skin color but because of his inner beauty. I enjoyed your wonderful creative poem. Blessings xxoo
Kamoonpuri Avatar
December 3, 2020 at 10:43 AM
Hi dear, you said such a wise true thing, inner beauty not skin color matters. All are beautiful, white , black or brown. Warmest thanks for great lovely comment.
Thomas Avatar
December 1, 2020 at 2:16 PM
As you've stated, beauty transcends color. Though many tanning Westerners would die before they chose to be a darker races tone. Very nice S.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
December 3, 2020 at 10:37 AM
I like how you paraphrase it, yes beauty transcends colour". And yeah tanning in sun does kill many times. Warmest thanks for comment.
Dome Avatar
November 28, 2020 at 2:18 PM
I have heard of some trying to lighten skin. to me, skin doesn't make a person. I treat everyone the same as we all should. I have heard in Gambia women lightening skin. It's said to make them more attractive, but I love dark skin womenpersonally. a really great well-written poem, thought-provoking. well done.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
November 29, 2020 at 7:23 AM
Yeah man even Indians , Asians and others think light whiter skin is a must for beauty . Some whites too wish to be dark and tan on the contrary ah. Thanks soo much for your great super comment in favour of all colours. Cheers!
Jayasankar Avatar
November 28, 2020 at 5:12 AM
Hello Zaynab! What an amazing poem... and so true... it's the colour of the mind that matters and not the colour of the skin... Just loved reading this.. Have a great day ~ Ani
Kamoonpuri Avatar
November 28, 2020 at 12:40 PM
Yes true I'm glad you agree that color of skin doesn't matter. More easterners and even westerners should think along these lines. Warm thanks!
Flannery Avatar
November 23, 2020 at 5:33 AM
Sadly sometimes it seems very true what you say. God created us each beautifully and uniquely. The one who can appreciate our differences is the one who knows true beauty. Wonderful writing in reminding us that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Thank you!!
Kamoonpuri Avatar
November 28, 2020 at 12:39 PM
Hi Vincent well said and your comment is so true and so noteworthy!! You nailed it well, thanks so much!
Laurie Avatar
November 22, 2020 at 4:04 PM
Hello zaynab ... the eye must search past the colour of another human's skin. What's in a heart and soul that really counts. Your poem is right on how people react and this is the reason it is good - Lindsay
Kamoonpuri Avatar
November 23, 2020 at 2:13 AM
Warm thanks for your great wise comment phrased beautifully. Take care.
Downing  Avatar
November 22, 2020 at 8:26 AM
Beauty comes in all colors and especially within the heart. But i do get your point that lots of women admire more of the light skin rather than just love their skin color they were born with... Great poem :)
Kamoonpuri Avatar
November 23, 2020 at 2:11 AM
Warmest thanks for your beautiful comment, I like how you summed up my poem, you are pretty in your fine complexion. Yeah some people don't like their own skin whatever colour it is, black ,white or brown. Take care.
Blown Avatar
November 21, 2020 at 10:08 PM
...as a guy i too was caught in consumer world imagery as to what is a man....then after passing through the mill i married the loveliest woman who has always been happy with herself as is : ) .....i've got happiness to love..........stan sand
Kamoonpuri Avatar
November 23, 2020 at 2:09 AM
Oh i didn't think you are a guy, good, and I like the way you tell your story in comment, thanks so much I like reading personal stories. Cheers!
Buehler Avatar
November 21, 2020 at 11:24 AM
True beauty comes from within, as stated in your thought provoking poem. We are in God's image, so we are all beautiful. :)
Kamoonpuri Avatar
November 23, 2020 at 2:07 AM
Yes you paraphrased it excellently, true beauty comes from within. I believe we are all beautiful creation of God but not His image though. Take care.
Turner Avatar
November 20, 2020 at 5:47 PM
Heavy, but very true. When I was younger I thought bleaching my dark skin was the road to being beautiful. But now I realized I was beautiful already. I have a face that is a portrait of an angelical child although I am dark skinned I look 20 years younger than my actually age. Thank you for the beautiful poem.
Kamoonpuri Avatar
November 20, 2020 at 9:18 PM
Oh I didn't know you were not a westerner. You are so right, some Africans seem to never grow old, I rarely see Africans with wrinkled skin or white hair. And yet many feel the need to bleach their fine chocolate brown skin ah not realising that they are beautiful as they are. Warm thanks for cool super comment.
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