If Only I Didn'T Listen

From when I was young they kept on staring They stared until they couldn't hold it , Then they burst into laughter. Young ones ,even older . They said I was too dark , And I listened. They said dark is ugly , I still listened. Darksinned and insecure, I became . They broke my spirit Because I was listening to their critism. Because I gave them a chance to critique. If only I didn't listen, Id be a different darksinned woman , Confident and unafraid. Proud and happy to be me. Not too dark and insecure. Like they said I am.