"Keep your head up; brown girl!"

As her head dropped, the little confidence she had begin to disappear

The Self-hating  thoughts started to become way too clear

As the chocolate girl with tear stained eyes stared back

She just couldn’t accept the fact that her skin was so black

Over the years, she felt more than ugly

She thought who could ever love me?

She walked with her head down, hoping she couldn’t be seen

Hoping no one saw her natural chocolate sheen

As the days, months, and years went by

Her tears didn’t seem to dry

Till one day she heard the words that went straight to the heart

The words she needed to try and make a fresh start

“Keep your head up; brown girl! Show your face to the world”

Something about those words striked her soul

It began to rebuild  it and make it whole

She found herself almost craving and looking for more

She needed more than those few words to make her soul roar

Week by week she was given more

Reading the second stanza she felt that she could soar

“Choc color, natural sheen. Chin up high: make it seen!”

She walked her school halls with a different light

It was even said some had to look away because it was so bright

Oh how she just wanted to scream

That third stanza that made her chocolate skin beam

“Cocoa pigmentation, natural as can be; stand and say, ‘This is me!”

She would go and look at the chocolate girl that stared back

The girl she just hated because her skin was so black

As The chocolate girl wrote the words on the mirror

the self-loving thoughts were back and more clearer

The last stanza that made her feel free and beautiful

Which a long time ago was unusual

“Mocha shade, unmatched by none; be proud of your brown girl; you’ve been kissed by the sun!”

It seemed like a miracle that she understood her power

A power she almost let crumble and die like a dead flower

A poem made her beautiful chocolate skin beam

Made her realize that she’s melanin queen

The poem “Keep your head up; brown girl!” was written by my track coach Travon Morgan. I do not take credit for this brown. I’ve learned how to love myself through this poem, and help me realize i’m beautiful even with brown skin!