Betty Robinson Poet Narrative

This Beautiful Brown Eyed Boy

He was skipping along, swinging his arms and laughing
At what I don't know.
His grandmother, lagging a few steps behind, was laughing at him I suppose.
And I thought to myself, she loves him, she does,
This Beautiful Brown Eyed Boy.
He stopped when he got to the corner and waited for me to turn right.
A smile crossed his lips,
As he waved at me - at me and my shabby old car.
And when I had passed him, he started to prance quite merrily on his way.
This Beautiful Brown Eyed Boy.
The confidence of youth flowed joyfully through him,
Just looking at him made me smile.
And you know what I did?  I pulled to the curb and parked my silly old car.
I watched for a while as he started to run and then charge on out of sight.
This Beautiful Brown Eyed Boy.
How old he was then, I'm really not sure, Maybe five, maybe six,
Not yet Seven.
But ageless his quest to embrace this life whatever might come his way.
A sadness crept into my heart just then for I knew life would never be fair to
This Beautiful Brown Eyed Boy.
It will be harder for him to be special.  The color of his skin will not help.
I wish I could be there
To tell him be careful, stay safe in this white man's domain.
But maybe the people he'll meet in his life will let him be just who he is
This Beautiful Brown Eyed Boy.

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Robin Brown June 12, 2026 at 10:55 PM This is a beautiful poem inspirational inspiring inspired poem so touching poem. I am so captured how you written this beautiful poem. This is a beautiful poem so well written.

Nancy Kaufman April 16, 2021 at 2:08 PM I just discovered this lovely poem, so heartfelt, enjoyed it thank you, nancy

Jennifer Fenn April 15, 2021 at 11:33 AM Wow Betty! You captured the innocence that is all too soon lost for children of color in a world as hateful as ours.

Richard Lamoureux April 13, 2021 at 2:00 PM Cool, your first poem is POTD. Congrats. :0) A belated welcome to the soup.

Ann Peck April 13, 2021 at 11:54 AM Betty, Such a beautiful, sweet poem! And you're sadly right. Because his skin isn't white, life will be harder. Congrats on POTD!

Jeanne Mcgee February 23, 2021 at 9:11 AM Such sweetness captured along with the reality you showed to be his truth at the end...congrats on your potd, Betty.

Arturo Michael February 21, 2021 at 9:23 AM A lot of love expressed here...Not to worry...He'll be Ok... regardless of whatever comes before him, he's the beautiful brown-eyed boy... Congratulations Betty Robinson on POTD.

Rama Balasubramanian February 19, 2021 at 7:20 PM Congratulations on Potd. Well penned.

Unseeking Seeker February 19, 2021 at 7:03 PM Your heart has already sent an loving impulse uplifting collective consciousness! Congrats on POTD

Brandy Nicole February 19, 2021 at 6:01 PM "Maybe the people he'll meet in his life will let him be just who he is" This thought touches my heart so deeply. He is precious in so many amazing ways, and your words curl gently around me. Congratulations Betty, on Poem of the Day. Welcome to Poetry Soup. Hugs, Brandy

Tom Cunningham February 19, 2021 at 2:40 PM A well written verse Betty, quite thought provoking, congratulations on POTD and a big welcome to poetry soup. Tom

John Lawless February 19, 2021 at 1:10 PM would that we all would grant each other that unfathomable gift....to just be who we are...A beautiful, stinging, write Betty.

Sam Kauffman February 19, 2021 at 11:59 AM Betty, congratulations on your POTD! Welcome to the soup!

Anne-Lise Andresen February 19, 2021 at 10:54 AM - A wonderful poem, Betty :) - Congratulations on your p.o.t.d. :) - Welcome to P-Soup :) - // Anne-Lise :)

Eve Roper February 19, 2021 at 9:41 AM Love the story, Betty, congratulations on POTD. Hugs Eve

Regina Mcintosh February 19, 2021 at 8:00 AM WOW.... This is awesome, wonderful, a gift from your pen that creates a warm and welcome promise for poetry that sings with inspiration, the muse of a heart gifted by God's grace. I love this so. It's a fave. And, congrats on POTD!!! God bless you with love and prayers, Gina

Rev. Gerald Dillenbeck February 19, 2021 at 7:15 AM This is a beautiful heart-warming piece with good rhythmic flow, with nearly flawless vulnerable reflection, and strong sensory-rooted language choices. Not just a surprising find for me this morning, but a heart-warming surprise--the best kind. I found myself wanting to rewrite only one line, "The confidence of youth flowed joyfully through him". I came up with, "The confidence of joy flows through fulfilling youth" I'm curious to learn how that comparatively feels to you.

Victor Buhagiar February 19, 2021 at 6:42 AM So this is your first poem on the soup. You have a great story here. Well deserving a POTD. Congratulations. ~~

John Gondolf February 19, 2021 at 6:22 AM Welcome to Poetry Soup, Betty, what a wonderful poem for your first post. After reading this, I think of the blue eyed, blond 5 year old boy walking on the other side of the street with his grandmother. These two could be best friends, but his parents and peers teach him that he must never cross the street...I will never understand why people hold such hate in their hearts. Congrats on a well deserved POTD. John

Vijay Pandit February 19, 2021 at 5:17 AM How splendidly you framed that moment--your message resonates. Congrats on poem of the day for your very first poem. Welcome to Soup, Betty.

Sara Kendrick February 19, 2021 at 4:53 AM Good job expressing the emotion of what can surround a person who is different from the average. Congrats on your work being selected as POTD. Sara

J. Summers February 19, 2021 at 4:14 AM Let's hope we can all help give him the kind of world where he can be who he wants. A most deserving POTD. Congratulations Betty. A wonderful poem. John

Jenna Logan February 19, 2021 at 3:53 AM Each child is born to innocence until they're old enough to learn the unfair ways of mankind...and their smiles become frowns. Congratulations on your Beautiful Brown Eyed Boy being chosen potd.

Constance La France February 19, 2021 at 2:45 AM Betty, what an incredible storyteller you are and congratulations on your deserving POEM OF THE DAY, enjoy the honor _Constance

L Milton Hankins February 17, 2021 at 5:24 PM Oh my, how much I love this poem, Betty. It reminds me so much of some of Maya Angelou's work. I shall always have a picture of this Beautiful Brown Eyed Boy in my head. Wonderful writing!