I don’t want to be the first to say this

I fret because my skin is brown

Why don’t you like me?

Is my hair too wild?

My curls too tangled

Twisted my lock at night

For length and acceptance

Can my skin pass the paper bag test?

My silence taken for dishonesty

Why make my curves a gimmick?

Pressure to be a clone

Don’t look at me

I’m different