i felt like a tarnished penny for so long

 

my copper skin was like a sentence of the damned

and my scars whispered

you deserved it:  you tarnished penny

 

i believed the toxic shaming lie

who hissed: i am the truth

while it wrapped around my throat

 

a shell of a woman who created a beautiful soul… a channel into earth

 

she says i am pretty and playful

and i love you

 

she tells me I love you

her whispers resonate throughout the morning sun and flicker

like a candle in the dark

 

she has no hidden agenda

no gains to make

her clear declarations rattle me to the core

 

then i struggled

was the whispering lil truth really a lie?

 

if the loving Maker gave me this gift of life

deemed me to be the steward

…tells me i am worthy

 

i stopped listening to the venomous lie

 

my copper skin is now one facet of my identity

 

i refind my voice

and share the truth with my daughter:  we are worthy we are strong and we are responsible

 

we are also our brother’s and sister’s keeper