Crown Me

 

Crown me…

For years I have walked alone,

No name…

No shoes…

Feet bare against streets that don’t lead me home.

Hiding in my skin and pressing my hair to belong.

I still get uncomfortable when I let it flow as God intended,

Made to feel it was wrong.

My universal family disowned me because I wasn’t black enough.

 My eyes changed colors too much and my skin reminded them,

 Of horrid past crimes committed.

But somehow they missed it, that God made us in every shade.

Long before master lay with first slave, we were a diverse people,

To which from then till now there has been no equal.  

Crown me…

For years I walked alone,

 No name…

 No shoes…

Feet bare against streets that don’t lead me home.

Work cracking my back bones

As no king was shown to me…

Daddy left home long before I could see how that would be a detriment to me.

My white mother rocking me on her knee, weak…

So I had to raise myself, I had no one else to call on.

 Oh my God, I cried out loud for His voice to show me how

to walk these roads that left me standing on the outside looking in.

Loving under the guise that I wasn’t or couldn’t be beautiful.

See, from every side(both black and white) eyes rolled.

Voices murmured, “just who in the hell does she think she is.”

I lifted head and chin and held it all in.

While inside the screams could be felt as I broke.

Waiting for some One to come in…

Crown me…

For years I walked alone.

No name…

No shoes…

Feet bare against streets that don’t lead me home.

Both side of my family unknown to me…

White side speaking out vehemently, “those n*****s don’t belong.”

My black side gone with my absentee dad…

My brothers and mother and I, was all we ever knew or had…

So I made up family in friends.

And the hearts of men, that lusted after my golden skin,

 To commit sins in flesh that sealed the death of my soul.

Little girl child, had known touch early on,

But love hadn’t come just yet…

So masculine hands jealous at best,

Began to exert self hatred on my flesh and still…

I held it in, lifted up head and chin,

 Because the spirit of my ancestors did live in me.

And though eyes wanted to over look or misjudge my authenticity,

That blood of years of survival, against unbeatable odds…

Spoke out to God on my behalf,

And I rose out what should have been the ashes that buried me alive.

I grew to be what I was created to be.

Crown me…

As I regally conquer a thousand deaths…

Only one flesh sibling left as we laid the other to rest,

That met his death too early on.

I grew to be strong and my blood still speaks out on my behalf.

By the day, I grow more, to accept what other choose to neglect…

And I overstand the why.

Love and forgiveness lives inside me.

For one can not be present without the other.

I am of the line of Hatshepsut…

Daughter of Makeda…

Sister of Tiye…

Even before the arrival of my King,

I am, Queen.

So crown me…

 

Reviews

[Mr. Deft Diction]

You said a WHOLE lot with this piece, Tish. First of all, this subject is something that will never get old. Well, until we live in a world that is basically blind. You've told an autobiographical tale and each time that it comes back around, the sentiment is stronger and stronger. You're right...

you should be crowned.

[Barbara Walker]

This brought tears to my eyes. Your words tell the story so well all of your struggle and the inner strength to find out who you are and claim it! No need to have a king to be a strong queen. I can't express how much I liked this. going in my favorites!

[Kena Dawn Augustine]

Probably one of my favorite poems on this site so far. Beautiful! i dont' know how i can describe it, but i like the fact you bare your soul. I have friends who are of half black/half white descent, and the hardships they had growing up because of it. I am of mixed race too: japanese and caucasian, and it was a little hard growing up and having boys tease me about my eyes, but like you said in your poem:

And the hearts of men, that lusted after my golden skin, To commit sins in flesh that sealed the death of my soul.

Yes, eventually those same boys did lust after my skin as well. lol. anyway, i think this is a serious poem that is worthy of greatness. ddi you put it in a contest yet? you should.

[R J Askew]

The line here for me is 'Love and forgiveness live inside me'. With those two qualities all is possible. I wonder if a diploma in your hand will be a part of the crown one day? Respect. A powerful poem.