Black Girl

Black girl,

You there!

With the brown skin,

brown eyes,

and black hair. 

With ashy knees,

and braids with butterfly barrettes

flowin’ in the wind. 

What do you want to become?

An astronaut,

scientist,

doctor?  

Black girl,

Black girl!

Your name brings peace

to our people.

Your potential brings hope

for the future.

Your trauma brings tears

to our eyes.

Black girl,

Black girl!

Don’t you ever

stoop lower

than the sky.