For Maya: a Tribute To Maya Angelou

Birthed by a stranger whom I’d never met Held by a family that I had never seen I could only imagine who I would become Never could I foresee what I would be deemed Never could I run and play like a normal child Because I was not born to a familiar face Hurt greeted me in the form of memories So I had to confront hurt everyday The search was on to find my beginnings I had lost them in my end I was told not to be proud of who I was Because of the color of my skin Who are you to tell me I’m beautiful I will not accept that praise I was born into a ring of fire My confidence was set ablaze No one there to filter my speech So I often spoke alone White and black only made sense to me As I watched ink mate with paper in my home I taught myself to listen vividly To hear the caged bird sing I heard the profoundness of her cry And her praise for the little things Someone told me I was great And I believed half to wonderful I had to simply correct that compliment And remind them that I was phenomenal I came to birth as I once was But something felt different Doctor told me only of one But out came millions Black and white greeted me again As I hugged my paper and pen I wanted all my children to feel my love So I wrote it out and sent them my greatest hug Don’t cry for my life, Don’t cry for me I have lived……and still will my legacy