I Am Not My Skin

I am not my skin nor what I wear, I am much more than what meets the eye, I am the love that I give and share, I am the laughter that springs up high. I am not defined by my looks, For beauty lies in the heart and soul, I am the words in well-written books, And the story that makes people whole. I am the light that shines from within, Not the darkness that tries to consume, I am the hope that lingers within, And the courage that never assumes. I am not my race or background, For my spirit knows no bounds, I am the strength that I have found, And the resilience that propounds. So do not judge me by my exterior, For there's more to me than what you see, I am not my skin nor what I wear, I am all that I choose to be.