Dear Daughter: Full Version

Dear Daughter

You might turn out dark, tough like my father
Your skin shinning darker than a summer night
OR
Like your grandmother
You will have milk chocolate skin and
quietly carry the world on your back.

Whether you are born dark or light, you will black
A black woman
Dear daughter, I hate to tell you this but
as far as this world sees
You are weaker than the weak.
Emotional
At best you are pretty,
awaiting the care of a man.

This world thinks it knows you,
deciding your faith for you,
They told your story and closed the books
As if their well being depended on you not
knowing yourself.

They put you in colorful boxes
Black
Minority
Female
They will say that
You are fragile
Vulnerable
Disadvantaged

Honey don't believe these people,
They know nothing of your kind,
The resilience in your eyes mirrors
Your ancestors, who fought
Baring swords in the face of tanks
Bravery is built in your bones
Humility flows in your blood
you have the skills to take mountains and curve out a church
SO...
I promise, I find you a name that fits
How about
Ayalnesh, like the might, the strong.

Don't be mistaken these people misnaming
Shoving you in boxes
Are not your enemies
In fact they are your brothers and sisters
They are just confused,
believing your demises
protects their world.
Don't be confused with them,
March them out of the darkness.
You are the solider they need

politely remind themthey are the ones in crisis.

So
Dear daughter
when they say you are black
Tell them in fact, you are bright orange. You are the sun.
When they say you are a minority,
Show them a map
Because they numbers and pictures say otherwise
When they say you are disadvantaged,
Say to them, let's change it.
That is a deathbed and you don't plan to sleep on it.

Writer
Selam

Dear Daughter

When they say your are black
Tell them in fact, you are bright orange.
You are the sun.

When they say you are a minority,
Show them a damn map
the numbers and the pictures say otherwise.

When they say you are disadvantaged,
Say to them, Let's change it.
That is a death bed and you don't plan to sleep on it.


A couple of verses from my spoken word piece titled "Dear Daughter." I will be performing the full version live at the Webet Open Mic next Saturday at the Ethiopian Community Center. Hope you can come hear it!

Cheers
Selam

Live Poetry Reading @ a local fundraiser.

hey guys, check out this short video I made with EthioYouthMediaTV promoting the second annual Webet Open Mic. The goal of the event is to celebrate women specially those who are Ethiopian/Black.