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