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I FOUND A DARK SPOT ON THE BACK OF MY LEG
I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE INK ON MY HANDS
BLACK INK RUBBED ONTO MY SKIN
THE DIFFERENCE OF THE TWO
BLACK INK ON BLACK SKIN
IS THAT BLACK DOES NOT WASH OFF.
I AM WHO I AM
I STAND TALL IN MY BLACKNESS
MY BROWN SKIN
MIXED WITH CHEROKEE ORIGINS
AND NATIVE SCREAMS
I HEAR THE VOICES OF MY ELDERS WHO WERE
CHASTISED AND BEATEN VOICING CRYING OUT
FOR THE INNOCENCE OF BEING LOOKED UPON
WITH A TONE OF SILENT INJUSTICE
THE TONE IS LOUD AND CLEAR
BUT THE INJUSTICE FALLS FROM A VIOLENT FEAR
TO A UPROAR OF DISHEARTENING TO A FEARFUL
WHISPER IN THE DARK
NO ONE CARES ABOUT US
BUT WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER UNCONDITIONALLY
I FOUND A DARK SPOT ON THE BACK OF MY LEG
WHEN THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS DARK SPOT FOUND YOU
UNABLE TO WIPE SCRAPE OR ENLIGHTEN THIS SPOT
I ONLY LIVE WITH THE BEAUTY THAT THIS IS THE SPOT
THAT DRAWS IN MY ATTENTION BECAUSE IT IS DIFFERENT
AND DIFFERENCE IN THE FORM OF HARMLESSNESS IS A CHOICE
DIFFERENCE IN THE FORM OF BEAUTY IS INNOCENCE
DIFFERENCE IN THE FORM OF DEATH IS INEVITABLE
APPRECIATE THE SPOTS UPON YOU THAT MAKE YOUR EYES GLOW
WITH WONDER AND BEWILDERMENT TO ASK HOW MANY SPOTS DO I HAVE?
WASH THE FAKE SPOTS AWAY WITH EVIDENCE AND PRECISENESS
AND LOVE THE REAL ONES WITH THE COURAGE AND HUMILITY.
