Untainted
I am human; calm, cool, confident and well coloured;’
Sorry, that’s incorrect; sounds fake and ‘flowered’.
I am human; brave, bold, brilliant and black; yes, Black!
You don’t value me, but without you; still nothing I lack.
Black; a very simple colour; but, not simply a colour;
It cannot be formed by mixing colours – that is its’ power
Black; it can’t be ‘reduced;’ yet tells a story in any light;
It’s my gift, my lineage, my heritage, my blessed birth right.
Formed from dust and given divine breath from my origin;
Royally robed in physical strength; and, glistening melanin.
I am unique, cultured, and energetic; with strutting swag;
Others feel threatened; my presence, their minds can’t tag.
I was used, miss-used, abused and mistreated; but, I survived;
I was hunted, captured, owned, sold, enslaved; but, I thrived.
They took away my dignity, family, possessions; even my name;
I was beaten, stripped, laid bare and ashamed; but, I rose again.
Centuries of slavery, torture, bondage, lynching, then, set free;
Yet, physically strong and in glistening melanin – I’m still wholly me.
They couldn’t understand then; and, can’t believe now; wondering how?
How could ‘Blacks’ undergo this degradation and, still flourish now?
Although, even now they still try to keep me down; to hold me back;
They still don’t know how nor why – I get stronger, because I’m BLACK!
End
By: Dion Penville
Copyright © Dion Penville | Year Posted 2020
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment