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.
I have gathered warmth,advice and
constructive critism on poetrysoup__
To brighten my poetic journey
My friend never complains
Mt friend is never dissapointed in me
My friend never goes without lovung me
My friend never judges me
My friend never tells me i can't
My friend never leads me down tyhe wrong path
My friend never has critism in me
My friend never turns his back on me
My friend never turns his back on me
My friend never leaves me alone
My friend never disrespects me
In JESUS my friend is never forgotten
If a child lives with critism he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility he learns to fight.
If he lives with ridicule he learns to be shy.
If he lives with shame he learns to feel guilty.
... But...
If a child lives with tolerance he learns to be patient.
If he lives with encouragement he learns to be confident.
If he lives with praise he learns to appreciate.
If he lives with fairness he learns justice.
If he lives with security he learns to have faith.
If he lives with approval he learns to like himself.
And, if he lives with acceptance and frienship,he learns to love.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.