A Few Shades Lighter

Some bleach, their skin, while others get a tan,
It’s evident that there’s a bigger problem at hand.
We look in the mirror and we don’t like what we see
It’s always what we don’t have that we wish to receive.
What I have isn’t it and who I am isn’t enough,
so being confident in this world is a little more than tough.
 I got mad when I looked too dark and happy when I was light.
Sad when I saw someone lighter than me and proud when I saw someone darker than me.
This skewed way of thinking was me for about three years
because the whole definition of beauty just wasn’t clear.
But dark skin is glowy.
Dark skin is bright.
Dark skin reflects that radiant light.
Dark skin is lovely.
Dark skin is precious.
 Dark skin is powerful and dark skin is my family.
We were made to see color and recognize beauty,
but that beauty fades quickly when the broken heart inside of it is prejudice and discriminates.
Dark skin rejects envy, because it doesn’t make space for negativity.
 So when they say you’d be prettier if, or you’ll be prettier when
No
I’ll be pretty when I love the skin that I’m in.