She was told as a kid,
To be fair is beautiful,
So she looked down her skin,
When she sighted a mirror,
And they pointed at others,
Saying- that girl is pretty.
And she withered inside for,
She didn’t look like those “pretties”.
8 year old and she’s taught,
To be dark is a sin,
For no man would approach,
A pigmented melanin,
And she’ll grow old and wilt,
In her lone parents home,
Well except, well except,
She did something about it.
And she did, yes she did,
More than something about it,
Now her skin is much lighter,
But she didn’t stop at her skin,
And her nose is a bit Pointer,
And her lips are much fuller,
And they point- see this fake thing,
Forgetting that they made her,
By the words they had implanted,
As a kid of eight years old.
A message between these lines we all need to heed.
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Thank you very much for taking the time to comment on this. I felt the need to say this.
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We need to raise people up, let them know they are beautiful in their own skin, I like this poem very much.
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wow, powerful and it speaks beyond what I can write. THIS IS THE Truth. Our society has shaped beauty so far fetched. I thank you for putting your brilliant pen toward this issue. Well done, well done…
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Thank you very much for taking the time to read and comment. I really appreciate it. It’s such a sad reality to think we still base beauty off of floor and shape and size, so sad.
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most welcome – indeed it is….
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Powerful words, and needed to be said.
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Thank you very much! I felt the need to say it.
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Peace
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This is one beautiful piece of writing, – Deep and meaningful.
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Thank you very much Sarah, I appreciate the comment.
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Such truth to grow up feeling ugly because of the color of your skin…
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Thank you very much Marquessa for the comment. It really pisses me off to hear such comments coming from adults.
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Oof, the raw honesty is extremely poignant in this poem, Ameena. Children absorb so much, more than we give them credit for. And more often than not, it’s the words and actions of adults that taint the children’s innocence.
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Thank you very much Jade. You so get this! Honestly, kids mirror what we say and do and that’s why we have to be extremely careful with what we say and do around them.
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Oh I just want to hug that child! All the children that are made to feel ugly for one reason or another. Very touching poem!
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I know right Joy! Such a sad feeling to hear adults say things like- that kid is ugly (and some actually do. We are breaking them and we dont know it
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Powerful, heartbreaking. True beauty is what lies inside, and not in appearances. Well said, Ameena
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Absolutely!!! It is the inside that counts. Thank you Shweta
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The message is indeed in between the lines. Beauty is not in the color of the skin. It is important to let young people know that they are beautiful just as they are and not to be moved by what society celebrates.
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Thank you very much Ma. I agree with you. We need to imbibe this in our kids right from their childhood. Beauty comes in all colours and shape.
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A wonderful poem with a powerful message! Words can often times shape a persons life, as in this case. We need to be aware , and guard our choice of words. Sometimes they have a negative affect….in this case, but sometimes they can have a positive affect.
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Thank you very much JC for sharing your thoughts on this. I also believe, that a lot of times, words do shape who become and how we see ourselves. And ohh yes, they can also have great positive effects. I am a living evidence of that.
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Great poem. Its crazy that we tell kids these things even to this day. And by parents with the same skin colour! Everyone needs to learn to love themselves and accept who they truely are. A much needed poem. 😊❤❤❤
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Thank you very much Batool. Crazy is the right word to describe it¡ I hope we,this generation will do better in that regard.
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Fingers Crossed 🙂
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